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How to Build Your First AI Agent on n8n in 15 Minutes- With No Coding

This is the Gmail Assistant AI Agent that You Will Build By the End of this Blog
This is the Gmail Assistant AI Agent that You Will Build By the End of this Blog

What is n8n?

  • n8n is a workflow automation platform that allows you to connect different apps and automate tasks without heavy coding.

  • You can create automations ("workflows") visually by dragging and dropping nodes that represent different apps, triggers, or actions.

  • n8n supports hundreds of integrations and is open-source, meaning you can self-host it for free or use n8n Cloud (the hosted version).

What is an AI agent?

  • An AI agent in this context is an automation or bot powered by artificial intelligence that can perform tasks, make decisions, or respond to user input.

  • In n8n, an AI agent might:

    • Use OpenAI, Google Gemini, or similar nodes to process text and generate responses.

    • Interact with users through chat interfaces (e.g., Telegram, WhatsApp, web chat).

    • Automate repetitive work, answer customer queries, generate documents, analyze data, etc.

Gmail Assistant with Telegram: Your First AI Agent Demo

Watch this Video from 00:00 - 01:32 to See How Your AI Agent Work in Action!

What You Need Before You Start


  1. Set Up Your n8n Account

Before you can build your first AI agent, you'll need to set up your n8n account. Don’t worry, NodeLearn has you covered!

Just click the button below to access our step-by-step guide and get started in minutes.



  1. Google Account

You'll also need a google account to get access to google sheets and Gmail!

Step-by-Step Guide: Building Your First AI Agent

Watch the Step by Step Video Guide to Create Your First AI Agent in Minutes


How to Design Good AI Prompts


  1. Be Specific

Don’t be shy and tell the AI exactly what you want.


Bad: “Summarize this.”

Good: “Summarize the following text in 2-3 sentences for a business audience. Highlight the main action points.”


  1. Give Context

AI works better when it understands the scenario.

Example:

“You are an assistant for a small business. Summarize customer enquiries so the team can respond faster.”

  1. Add Examples

If you want consistent results, show the AI what you expect.


Example:

 “For example, if the input is:
‘I need a refund for my order’,
the summary should be:
‘Customer is requesting a refund for an order.’”

  1. Always Write Your Prompt (or Ask for Output) in Markdown Format

Markdown is a simple way to add formatting—like bold, italics, bullet lists, and even code blocks—to your AI outputs. LLM best follow your instructions when written in markdown format.


Example:

Instead of a plain reply:

Summarize the main points from this email.

Try:

Summarize the main points from this email in markdown bullet points. For example: 
- Main point 1 
- Main point 2 
- Action item

Bonus Tip*

Why write your prompt manually when you can let AI handle it for you? I highly recommend a custom GPT called AI Agent Prompt Architect, which is specifically trained to write prompts for AI agents.


I’ve personally found it extremely useful. Just describe what you want your AI agent to do, and this GPT will generate a comprehensive, markdown-formatted prompt for you—saving time and ensuring clarity.

The custom GPT I personally use to write my AI agent prompts
The custom GPT I personally use to write my AI agent prompts


Take Your Business to the Next Level with NodeLearn

Looking to go further with n8n and AI automations? NodeLearn has you covered! Here’s what you’ll find on NodeLearnAI.com:


1. Free AI Automation Templates

Download ready-to-use n8n templates designed to help you automate real business processes—from handwritten invoice automation, handling customer enquiries AI market research tools, and more.

Tip: New templates are added regularly, so check back often!



2. Step-by-Step Blog Guides

Follow detailed, beginner-friendly blog posts covering a range of AI and automation topics—from building your first workflow to advanced AI agent tips.



3. Video Tutorials

Prefer to watch and learn? Check out easy-to-follow video tutorials that walk you through each step of the process.


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