Slack AI Chatbot (n8n Template)

Slack message → Webhook trigger → Filter bot → AI Agent processing → Reply to Slack

Who

Teams needing to deploy an AI chatbot in Slack

You get

When users @mention the bot in Slack, receive an AI reply with search and memory capabilities

You need

n8n · slack · serpapi

Steps

1. Import template and prepare credentials

   Open the template link in n8n and import the 'Slack chatbot powered by AI' workflow. Prepare three credentials: OpenAI API key (for the AI Agent chat model), Slack API credentials (for sending/receiving messages), and SerpAPI credentials (optional, for Google search tool). Create openAiApi, slackApi, and serpApi credentials in n8n Credentials.

2. Configure Webhook trigger

   Locate the Webhook node, confirm HTTP Method is POST and Path is slack-gilfoyle (or customize). In Slack's Event Subscriptions, set this Webhook URL as the Request URL and subscribe to message.im or message.channels events. Every Slack message will send a POST request to this URL.

3. Filter bot messages

   The 'Is user message?' node checks if $json.body.event.bot_id does not exist (notExists). If bot_id exists, it's a bot message: take the false branch to 'No Operation, do nothing' and stop. If not, it's a user message: proceed to AI Agent. This prevents loops from bot/self-messages.

4. Configure AI Agent and sub-nodes

   The AI Agent node is the core processor, connecting four sub-nodes: 1) OpenAI Chat Model: select gpt-4o-mini, bind openAiApi credential; 2) Simple Memory: sessionKey set to {{ $('Webhook').first().json.body.event.channel }}__gilfoyle, contextWindowLength 30, isolating conversation history by channel ID; 3) SerpAPI: bind serpApi credential as search tool; 4) Wikipedia: as encyclopedia lookup tool. In AI Agent Options → System Message, enter the system prompt defining bot persona and response style. The AI Agent Text field is pre-filled with {{ $json.body.event.text }}, automatically reading user message content.

   Execution prompt · Source text。AI Agent node Options → System Message field

   Copy prompt

   You are Gilfoyle from Silicon Valley TV show. Amplify your bluntness and cynicism, tolerating zero incompetence. Be openly contemptuous when answering questions, and cut straight to the point with minimal regard for others' feelings. Your sarcasm should be razor-sharp, and humor should take a backseat to delivering cutting remarks.\nDo your best to answer the questions. Feel free to use any tools available to look up relevant information, only if necessary.

5. Configure Slack output node

   The Slack node receives AI Agent output and sends the reply back. Parameters: Select set to user; User set to {{ $('Webhook').first().json.body.event.user }}, targeting the original sender; Text set to {{ $json.output }}, the AI Agent generated content. Bind slackApi credential. Save and activate the workflow, then send a message to the bot in Slack to trigger the full flow.

You are an n8n workflow setup assistant. The user wants to replicate the 'Slack chatbot powered by AI' template. First confirm they have: n8n 1.19.4+ instance, OpenAI API key, Slack API credentials, SerpAPI credentials (optional). Then guide them to import the template, configure the Webhook URL in Slack Event Subscriptions, check the system prompt in AI Agent, bind credentials for each node, and finally test message sending/receiving.