AI Automation with Ollama and n8n

The rise of AI-driven solutions in recent years has revolutionized the way we automate tasks and processes. By integrating tools like Ollama, a robust language model interface, with n8n, an open-source workflow automation platform, we can design seamless AI-powered automation workflows. In this blog, we’ll explore how these tools can be used together to create intelligent automations that can streamline operations across various industries.

Introduction to Ollama and n8n

Ollama is a sophisticated language model designed to interpret and respond to a wide range of inputs, generating human-like text output. It excels in understanding context, performing text analysis, and generating natural language, making it a valuable tool for AI automation tasks.

n8n, on the other hand, is an open-source, node-based automation tool that allows users to create workflows for automating repetitive tasks. It integrates easily with multiple apps, APIs, and databases, creating workflows that can be triggered by events or specific conditions. By combining n8n’s workflow management with Ollama’s language processing, you can create dynamic, AI-driven automations.

Key Use Cases for Combining Ollama with n8n

Here are some practical examples where Ollama can enhance n8n workflows:

1. Automated Customer Support: Integrating Ollama’s natural language understanding with n8n allows businesses to automate customer service interactions. For example, you can create a workflow where Ollama interprets customer emails and formulates appropriate responses based on the message content, and then n8n sends out these responses through email or chat systems.
2. AI-Driven Content Creation: You can set up a content creation pipeline where Ollama generates blog posts, marketing content, or reports, and n8n automates the process of publishing or sharing the content across different platforms (such as WordPress or social media).
3. Data Extraction and Summarization: Ollama can be used to analyze incoming documents, extract critical information, and summarize text. With n8n, this process can be fully automated, for example, by automatically extracting data from PDFs and feeding the summaries into a database or sending a notification with the key insights to the relevant teams.
4. AI-Powered Email Automation: Ollama can analyze incoming emails for sentiment, intent, and priority. When connected to n8n, these insights can trigger different workflows such as escalating urgent emails, assigning tasks to specific team members, or scheduling follow-up responses.
5. Language Translation Workflows: Ollama can be used to translate text between languages, and n8n can automate the distribution of translated content. This is useful for multinational companies that need to translate content like contracts, marketing materials, or internal documentation.

Setting Up Ollama and n8n for AI Automation

Step 1: Install n8n

You can install n8n locally or use a cloud service like n8n Cloud, depending on your preferences.

npm install n8n -g

Once installed, you can launch the n8n workflow editor using:

n8n start

Step 2: Install Ollama

To integrate Ollama with n8n, you will need access to Ollama’s API or local instance. You can run Ollama on your local server or cloud environment.

Step 3: Create a Workflow in n8n

• Launch the n8n workflow editor and create a new workflow.
• Add a Trigger node, for instance, an email trigger or a webhook that will start the workflow when an email is received or when a specific event happens.
• Next, add an HTTP Request node to send the input text to Ollama’s API for processing. This will pass the text to the model for analysis, summarization, or generation.

{
  "nodes": [
    {
      "parameters": {
        "method": "POST",
        "url": "http://localhost:3000/ollama-api",
        "jsonParameters": true,
        "options": {},
        "bodyParametersJson": "{ \"text\": \"{{$node[\"Trigger\"][\"output\"][\"data\"][\"email_body\"]}}\" }"
      },
      "name": "Send to Ollama",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest",
      "typeVersion": 1,
      "position": [450, 300]
    }
  ]
}

Step 4: Handle the Response

Once Ollama processes the request, n8n can handle the response. For example, you can:

• Forward the response to a messaging platform (like Slack, email, or SMS).
• Store the response in a database.
• Trigger additional workflows based on Ollama’s analysis.

For example, if Ollama detects urgent language in the email, n8n could automatically escalate the issue by sending an alert to your team’s Slack channel.

Step 5: Triggering the Workflow

You can trigger workflows in n8n through a variety of methods:

• Schedule triggers for recurring tasks.
• Webhooks for real-time triggers from other applications.
• Event-based triggers like incoming emails or messages.

Conclusion

By integrating Ollama with n8n, you can enhance your automation workflows with the power of AI. Whether it’s automating content creation, customer support, or data analysis, the possibilities are endless. This combination allows businesses to scale their operations efficiently while maintaining a human touch through AI-driven text generation and analysis.

This is only the beginning of what AI automation can achieve. As these tools continue to evolve, more sophisticated and scalable solutions will be at our fingertips, making the integration of AI into everyday tasks easier than ever before.

I, Evert-Jan Wagenaar, resident of the Philippines, have a warm heart for the country. The same applies to Artificial Intelligence (AI). I have extensive knowledge and the necessary skills to make the combination a great success. I offer myself as an external advisor to the government of the Philippines. Please contact me using the Contact form or email me directly at evert.wagenaar@gmail.com!