Module 10 Lesson 1: AI & LangChain in n8n

Visual automation traditionally followed "If/Then" logic. But what if you have data that is "Messy," like a customer email? Traditional tools fail. AI succeeds. n8n has integrated the world-class LangChain library to bring Intelligence to your canvas.

1. What is LangChain?

LangChain is a framework that helps "Chain" together different AI pieces:

The Model: The brain (OpenAI, Anthropic, Local Llama).
The Memory: Remembers what happened in the previous step.
The Tools: Allows the AI to "Do things" (e.g., Search the Web, Read a PDF).

2. The AI Chain Node

Unlike regular nodes that have one input and one output, the AI nodes in n8n have Special Inputs:

A slot for the Model.
A slot for the Prompt.
A slot for Memory.

Visualizing the Process

graph TD
    Start[Input] --> Process[Processing]
    Process --> Decision{Check}
    Decision -->|Success| End[Complete]
    Decision -->|Retry| Process

3. Why n8n is better for AI?

Most AI tools are "isolated." You can chat with ChatGPT, but it can't easily "Update your Google Sheet."

In n8n, the AI is part of the pipeline.
It can read your Sheet, decide which customer is "Angry," and write a draft reply automatically.

4. The "Prompt" is the Code

In AI automation, we don't write "Logic." we write Instructions.

"Analyze the following text. If it is a complaint about shipping, translate it to Spanish and send it to the Logistics team."

Exercise: The AI Architect

Locate the "AI" section in the n8n node panel.
What is the difference between a 'Basic LLM' node and an 'Agent' node?
If an AI model costs $0.01 per 1,000 words, how would you calculate the cost of a workflow that summarizes 100 emails a day?
Research: What is "Hallucination" in AI and why should you ALWAYS have a human review "Critical" AI steps? (Review Module 5, Lesson 5 - Manual Approvals).

Summary

AI turns n8n into a "Thinking" machine. By using the LangChain integration, you move beyond simple data movement into the realm of data Understanding. You are no longer just an "Automation Engineer"—you are an "AI Orchestrator."

Next Lesson: Choosing the brain: Connecting to OpenAI and Anthropic.