# Slack chatbot powered with OpenAI: n8n workflow template

> Started by another system calling it, and works across Slack. It puts OpenAI behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from documents you supply rather...

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/slack-chatbot-powered-with-openai (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

[Automation library](https://millionrounds.com/workflows) · [Chat assistants](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?category=Chat+assistants#library)

# Slack chatbot powered with OpenAI

Started by another system calling it, and works across Slack. It puts OpenAI behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from documents you supply rather than from the model alone. 9 steps, 1 branch: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Medium Calls a model: OpenAI Retrieval

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fslack-chatbot-powered-with-openai)

**9 steps** Medium: a working afternoon

**1** Branch: places the flow splits

**0** Loops or waits

**1** Service it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 1 Model 5 Logic 2 Service 1

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

- 1 **OpenAI Chat Model** Lm Chat Open Ai *Model*
- 2 **Simple Memory** Memory Buffer Window *Model*
- 3 **SerpAPI** Tool Serp Api *Model*
- 4 **Wikipedia** Tool Wikipedia *Model*
- 5 **Webhook** Webhook *Starts it*
- 6 **AI Agent** Agent *Model*
- 7 **Is user message?** If *Logic*
- 8 **Slack** Slack *Service*
- 9 **No Operation, do nothing** No Op *Logic*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** Another system calling it
- **Steps:** 9, with 1 branch
- **Size:** Medium: a working afternoon
- **Connects to:** Slack
- **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, plus your own Slack 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. 9 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 9 steps before you point it at anything that matters.

## Run it in n8n

- **Create your n8n account** Free to start. n8n is where the workflow runs. [Create an n8n account ↗](https://millionrounds.com/n8n)
- **Download the workflow** Free with a Millionrounds account. [Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fslack-chatbot-powered-with-openai)
- **Paste it into n8n** Open a new workflow in n8n and paste. Then connect your own accounts.

Stored with the author's traces removed: canvas notes, instance identifiers, saved credential names and any live document they had left behind.

## Connects to

Each opens the other workflows that use it.

[Slack](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Slack#library)

## Workflows like it

Also chat assistants, with the same services where possible, closest in size first.

- [**Automated multi-cloud resource cost optimizer with OpenAI** 9 steps · calls a model · Email, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automated-multi-cloud-resource-cost-optimizer-with-openai)
- [**Classify and route inbound messages with OpenAI and Slack** 9 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets, Slack](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/classify-and-route-inbound-messages-with-openai-and-slack)
- [**Gate AI Slack DevOps bot actions with OpenAI** 9 steps · calls a model · Slack](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/gate-ai-slack-devops-bot-actions-with-openai)
- [**Generate and approve Google review replies with Groq AI** 9 steps · calls a model · Google Business Profile, Slack](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/generate-and-approve-google-review-replies-with-groq-ai)
- [**Generate and share professional PDFs with OpenAI** 9 steps · calls a model · Google Drive, Slack](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/generate-and-share-professional-pdfs-with-openai)
- [**Generate personalized cat breed matches with OpenAI** 9 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/generate-personalized-cat-breed-matches-with-openai)