Tutorial · Custom tools

Your first AI agentwith n8n.

The best way to understand an agent is to build a small one. This one reads your new emails, summarizes them and creates a task when action is needed.

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Key points8 min
  1. n8n is an open-source automation tool, online or on your own server.
  2. An agent is an AI model that can use tools.
  3. Start with a test inbox.
  4. Important actions go through human approval.

The problem

Everyone talks about “AI agents” without ever showing what they actually are. It is hard to tell whether they are useful for your business, or just the buzzword of the year.

The solution

  1. The triggerA new email arrives in a test inbox.
  2. The agentAn n8n “AI Agent” node, connected to a model (OpenAI, Anthropic or local).
  3. The toolThe agent can create a task in Trello, Asana, To Do or a spreadsheet.
  4. The noticeYou receive the summary and the proposed task by email or in Teams.
Agent prompt

You receive an email addressed to a [industry] small business. Summarize it in two sentences. If the email asks us to act (reply, send a document, call back, prepare a quote), create a task with a short title, a reasonable due date and the customer’s name. Otherwise, reply “No action”. Do not invent any information.

Good precautionsKeep access keys in n8n’s credential manager, grant minimal permissions (read, not delete) and review the execution log.

How Northworks AI helps

We take it from demo to production.

An agent that touches real customers needs security, monitoring and rules. That is the work of our Custom tools service.

A reliable agent working for you, and one you understand.

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Your project · Custom tools4 steps
  1. The right caseThe task where an agent really pays off.
  2. The buildn8n hosted on your side or in the cloud, depending on your data.
  3. GuardrailsMinimal permissions, human approval, alerts.
  4. MonitoringA log and an owner, every week.

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