# Telegram bot AI agent with OpenAI: n8n workflow template

> Started by an incoming Telegram message, and works across Telegram. It puts OpenAI behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from documents you supply...

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/telegram-bot-ai-agent-with-openai (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

[Automation library](https://millionrounds.com/workflows) · [Alerts and monitoring](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?category=Alerts+and+monitoring#library)

# Telegram bot AI agent with OpenAI

Started by an incoming Telegram message, and works across Telegram. It puts OpenAI behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from documents you supply rather than from the model alone. 22 steps, 2 branches: large, and worth reading before you trust it with anything live.

Large Calls a model: OpenAI Retrieval

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Ftelegram-bot-ai-agent-with-openai)

**22 steps** Large: read it before trusting it with anything live

**2** Branches: places the flow splits

**0** Loops or waits

**1** Service it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 3 Model 5 Logic 7 Service 7

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

- 1 **Telegram Trigger** Telegram trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **Postgres Chat Memory** Memory Postgres Chat *Model*
- 3 **Calculator** Tool Calculator *Model*
- 4 **Send Telegram Message** Telegram Tool *Service*
- 5 **HTTP Request** Http Request Tool *Service*
- 6 **Think** Tool Think *Model*
- 7 **OpenAI Chat Model** Lm Chat Open Ai *Model*
- 8 **When Executed by Another Workflow** Execute Workflow trigger *Starts it*
- 9 **On Error** Error trigger *Starts it*
- 10 **Is Command?** If *Logic*
- 11 **AI Agent** Agent *Model*
- 12 **Stop Typing on Error** Variables Set *Service*
- 13 **Is Custom Command?** If *Logic*
- 14 **Set Processing Started** Variables Set *Service*
- 15 **Set Processing Complete** Variables Set *Service*
- 16 **Send Response** Telegram *Service*
- 17 **Set Error Message** Set *Logic*
- 18 **Prepare Command Payload** Set *Logic*
- 19 **Other Commands** No Op *Logic*
- 20 **Call Typing Indicator Workflow** Execute Workflow *Logic*
- 21 **Send Error Notification** Telegram *Service*
- 22 **Call Custom Command Workflow** Execute Workflow *Logic*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** An incoming Telegram message
- **Steps:** 22, with 2 branches
- **Size:** Large: read it before trusting it with anything live
- **Connects to:** Telegram
- **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 Telegram account, and a key for OpenAI. You connect your own accounts after importing it; none are included.

What starts it?

It starts on an incoming Telegram message.

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?

Take your time. At 22 steps it is large: read it before trusting it with anything live.

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 22 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%2Ftelegram-bot-ai-agent-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.

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

## Workflows like it

Also alerts and monitoring, with the same services where possible, closest in size first.

- [**Analyze Binance Futures markets with OpenAI and Telegram** 22 steps · calls a model · Telegram](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/analyze-binance-futures-markets-with-openai-and-telegram)
- [**Filter breaking geopolitical news with Telegram** 22 steps · calls a model · RSS, Telegram](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/filter-breaking-geopolitical-news-with-telegram)
- [**Monitor website uptime and send alerts with Uptime Robot** 22 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/monitor-website-uptime-and-send-alerts-with-uptime-robot)
- [**Automated Customer Onboarding Sequence with HubSpot** 22 steps · Email, HubSpot](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automated-customer-onboarding-sequence-with-hubspot)
- [**Birthday and ephemeris notification with Google Contact** 22 steps · Telegram](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/birthday-and-ephemeris-notification-with-google-contact)
- [**Create and manage short URLs with Telegram and MongoDB** 22 steps · MongoDB, Telegram](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/create-and-manage-short-urls-with-telegram-and-mongodb)