n8n Automation Workshop Summary
Date: May 15, 2025
Presenter: Dr. Lau, AI expert and founder of LEAD
Introduction
The session was a hands-on, beginner-friendly introduction to n8n, an open-source automation platform. It was led by Dr. Lau Cher Han, an AI expert and founder of LEAD, with a background in machine learning, NLP, and software engineering.
Key Concepts Covered
What is Automation?
- Automation is about following structured SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures).
- You don’t need AI for most automation tasks—just a clear process.
- AI becomes useful when decisions are non-deterministic or involve unstructured data.
The 3 P’s of Automation
- Process (SOP): Clear, repeatable steps.
- Platform: Tools like n8n, Zapier, Make.com.
- Programming: Not necessarily coding, but logical structuring of workflows.
Tools Compared
| Tool | Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Make.com | Visual, beginner-friendly | Charges by operations |
| Zapier | Prebuilt workflows | Linear, limited customization |
| n8n | Open-source, self-hostable, highly customizable | Slightly steeper learning curve |
Hands-On Projects
AI Chatbot with n8n
- Built a chatbot using OpenAI API.
- Demonstrated how to set up triggers, connect to models, and deploy a public-facing chat interface.
- Emphasized the difference between AI Agent nodes (for chat) and OpenAI nodes (for tasks).
Meeting Minutes Generator
- Automated transcription of audio files using OpenAI Whisper.
- Summarized transcripts into formal meeting minutes.
- Output was saved to Google Docs via Google Drive API integration.
Telegram Chatbot
- Created a Telegram bot using BotFather.
- Set up message triggers and responses using n8n.
- Discussed limitations of WhatsApp bots due to API restrictions.
Advanced Topics Briefly Touched
- Hosting n8n on Docker or cloud (e.g., Oracle VM, AWS).
- Integrating with vector databases for RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation).
- Using n8n with OneDrive, Gmail, SQL, and APIs.
- Security considerations and scalability.
- Connecting to other LLMs like Gemini, Mistral, and LLaMA.
Upcoming Opportunities
14–15 June 2025: In-depth 2-day AI Automation Workshop.
Focus on advanced workflows, hosting, and real-world use cases.
HRD-claimable and includes group projects.
Final Thoughts
Dr. Lau emphasized that:
- Automation is about saving time and reducing repetitive work.
- n8n is powerful and flexible for both tech and non-tech users.
- The real challenge is often psychological resistance, not technical limitations.
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