Automation library · AI assistants

Create an intelligent Facebook Messenger chatbot with OpenAI

Started by another system calling it. It calls services over plain HTTP rather than through connectors. It puts OpenAI behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from documents you supply rather than from the model alone. 19 steps, 3 branches, 1 loop or waits: a working afternoon to understand properly.

MediumCalls a model: OpenAIRetrieval

19 stepsMedium: a working afternoon
3Branches: places the flow splits
1Loop or waits
0Services by connector: it calls them over plain HTTP

The flow

Starts it 5Model 3Logic 8Service 3

The steps in the order they run, from what starts it.

  1. 1Facebook Verification WebhookWebhookStarts it
  2. 2Facebook Message WebhookWebhookStarts it
  3. 3Conversation MemoryMemory Buffer WindowModel
  4. 4OpenAI Chat ModelLm Chat Open AiModel
  5. 5Is Token Valid?IfLogic
  6. 6Acknowledge EventRespond To WebhookStarts it
  7. 7AI AgentAgentModel
  8. 8Respond with ChallengeRespond To WebhookStarts it
  9. 9Respond ForbiddenRespond To WebhookStarts it
  10. 10Filter Valid MessagesIfLogic
  11. 11Format ResponseCodeLogic
  12. 12Store Message for BatchingCodeLogic
  13. 13Send Response to UserHttp RequestService
  14. 14Send Seen IndicatorHttp RequestService
  15. 15SuccessSetLogic
  16. 16Wait 3 SecondsWaitLogic
  17. 17Retrieve Batched MessagesCodeLogic
  18. 18Has Messages to Process?IfLogic
  19. 19Send Typing IndicatorHttp RequestService

How it's built

Starts on
Another system calling it
Steps
19, with 3 branches, 1 loop or waits
Size
Medium: a working afternoon
Connects to
Nothing by connector; it calls services over plain HTTP
Model
OpenAI
Retrieval
Answers are drawn from documents you supply, not from the model alone

Questions

What does it need to run?

An n8n account, and a key for OpenAI. You connect your own accounts after importing it; none are included.

What starts it?

It starts on another system calling it.

Does it use AI?

Yes. It calls OpenAI. Its answers draw on documents you give it, not on the model alone. Model calls are billed by the provider, not by n8n.

How long does it take to set up?

Plan an afternoon. 19 steps is enough that you should read each one before running it.

How do I import it?

Copy the workflow, open a new workflow in n8n and paste. The steps appear on the canvas, ready for your own accounts.

Before you run it

Nothing here has been tested by us. It is somebody's working automation, read and described from its own steps. Treat the connections it wants as a list of accounts it will touch, and read the 19 steps before you point it at anything that matters.