This workflow follows the Error Trigger → Google Sheets recipe pattern — see all workflows that pair these two integrations.
The workflow JSON
Copy or download the full n8n JSON below. Paste it into a new n8n workflow, add your credentials, activate. Full import guide →
{
"name": "AI Email Summarizer",
"nodes": [
{
"parameters": {},
"id": "b1a2c3d4-0001-4000-8000-000000000001",
"name": "Manual Trigger",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.manualTrigger",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [
240,
400
],
"notes": "Use this to test the workflow manually without waiting for a real email."
},
{
"parameters": {
"pollTimes": {
"item": [
{
"mode": "everyMinute"
}
]
},
"filters": {
"labelIds": [
"INBOX"
],
"readStatus": "unread"
},
"options": {
"dataPropertyName": "message"
}
},
"id": "b1a2c3d4-0001-4000-8000-000000000002",
"name": "Gmail Trigger",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.gmailTrigger",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [
240,
240
],
"credentials": {
"gmailOAuth2": {
"name": "<your credential>"
}
}
},
{
"parameters": {
"content": "## AI Email Summarizer\n\nThis workflow automatically:\n1. Triggers on new unread Gmail messages\n2. Extracts key fields from the email\n3. Sends to OpenAI to summarize and classify urgency\n4. Routes urgent emails to Slack for immediate action\n5. Logs non-urgent emails to Google Sheets\n6. Handles errors gracefully with Slack alerts\n\n**Setup required:**\n- Gmail OAuth2 credential\n- OpenAI API credential (HTTP Header Auth)\n- Slack credential\n- Google Sheets credential\n\n**Note:** Set `OPENAI_API_KEY` in your n8n credentials.",
"height": 360,
"width": 380,
"color": 5
},
"id": "b1a2c3d4-0001-4000-8000-000000000003",
"name": "Sticky Note - Overview",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [
240,
-120
]
},
{
"parameters": {
"content": "## OpenAI System Prompt\n\n\"You are an AI automation assistant inside a business workflow. Use only the provided input. Do not invent details. If information is missing, return 'unknown' or 'not mentioned'. Always return valid JSON matching the requested schema.\"\n\n**Output schema:**\n```json\n{\n \"summary\": [\"bullet 1\", \"bullet 2\", \"bullet 3\"],\n \"urgency\": \"low|medium|high\",\n \"suggested_action\": \"string\",\n \"reply_needed\": true|false\n}\n```",
"height": 300,
"width": 360,
"color": 3
},
"id": "b1a2c3d4-0001-4000-8000-000000000004",
"name": "Sticky Note - AI Prompt",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [
700,
-120
]
},
{
"parameters": {
"assignments": {
"assignments": [
{
"id": "field-001",
"name": "email_subject",
"value": "={{ $json.subject || $json.payload?.headers?.find(h => h.name === 'Subject')?.value || 'No Subject' }}",
"type": "string"
},
{
"id": "field-002",
"name": "email_from",
"value": "={{ $json.from || $json.payload?.headers?.find(h => h.name === 'From')?.value || 'Unknown Sender' }}",
"type": "string"
},
{
"id": "field-003",
"name": "email_body",
"value": "={{ $json.text || $json.snippet || $json.body || 'No body content available' }}",
"type": "string"
},
{
"id": "field-004",
"name": "email_date",
"value": "={{ $json.date || $json.internalDate || $now.toISO() }}",
"type": "string"
},
{
"id": "field-005",
"name": "email_id",
"value": "={{ $json.id || $json.messageId || 'unknown' }}",
"type": "string"
},
{
"id": "field-006",
"name": "email_thread_id",
"value": "={{ $json.threadId || 'unknown' }}",
"type": "string"
}
]
},
"options": {
"includeBinaryData": false
}
},
"id": "b1a2c3d4-0001-4000-8000-000000000005",
"name": "Set - Extract Email Fields",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.set",
"typeVersion": 3.4,
"position": [
500,
300
]
},
{
"parameters": {
"method": "POST",
"url": "https://api.openai.com/v1/chat/completions",
"authentication": "genericCredentialType",
"genericAuthType": "httpHeaderAuth",
"sendHeaders": true,
"headerParameters": {
"parameters": [
{
"name": "Content-Type",
"value": "application/json"
}
]
},
"sendBody": true,
"bodyParameters": {
"parameters": []
},
"specifyBody": "json",
"jsonBody": "={\n \"model\": \"gpt-4o-mini\",\n \"temperature\": 0.2,\n \"response_format\": { \"type\": \"json_object\" },\n \"messages\": [\n {\n \"role\": \"system\",\n \"content\": \"You are an AI automation assistant inside a business workflow. Use only the provided input. Do not invent details. If information is missing, return 'unknown' or 'not mentioned'. Always return valid JSON matching the requested schema.\"\n },\n {\n \"role\": \"user\",\n \"content\": \"Analyze the following email and return a JSON object with exactly these fields:\\n\\n- summary: array of exactly 3 bullet-point strings summarizing the email\\n- urgency: string, one of 'low', 'medium', or 'high'\\n- suggested_action: string describing the recommended next step\\n- reply_needed: boolean, true if the email requires a reply\\n\\nEmail Details:\\nFrom: {{ $json.email_from }}\\nSubject: {{ $json.email_subject }}\\nDate: {{ $json.email_date }}\\nBody:\\n{{ $json.email_body }}\"\n }\n ]\n}",
"options": {
"timeout": 30000,
"response": {
"response": {
"neverError": false
}
}
}
},
"id": "b1a2c3d4-0001-4000-8000-000000000006",
"name": "OpenAI - Summarize Email",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest",
"typeVersion": 4.2,
"position": [
740,
300
],
"retryOnFail": true,
"maxTries": 3,
"waitBetweenTries": 2000,
"credentials": {
"httpHeaderAuth": {
"name": "<your credential>"
}
}
},
{
"parameters": {
"assignments": {
"assignments": [
{
"id": "parse-001",
"name": "ai_summary",
"value": "={{ JSON.parse($json.choices[0].message.content).summary }}",
"type": "array"
},
{
"id": "parse-002",
"name": "ai_urgency",
"value": "={{ JSON.parse($json.choices[0].message.content).urgency }}",
"type": "string"
},
{
"id": "parse-003",
"name": "ai_suggested_action",
"value": "={{ JSON.parse($json.choices[0].message.content).suggested_action }}",
"type": "string"
},
{
"id": "parse-004",
"name": "ai_reply_needed",
"value": "={{ JSON.parse($json.choices[0].message.content).reply_needed }}",
"type": "boolean"
},
{
"id": "parse-005",
"name": "email_subject",
"value": "={{ $('Set - Extract Email Fields').item.json.email_subject }}",
"type": "string"
},
{
"id": "parse-006",
"name": "email_from",
"value": "={{ $('Set - Extract Email Fields').item.json.email_from }}",
"type": "string"
},
{
"id": "parse-007",
"name": "email_date",
"value": "={{ $('Set - Extract Email Fields').item.json.email_date }}",
"type": "string"
},
{
"id": "parse-008",
"name": "email_id",
"value": "={{ $('Set - Extract Email Fields').item.json.email_id }}",
"type": "string"
}
]
},
"options": {}
},
"id": "b1a2c3d4-0001-4000-8000-000000000007",
"name": "Set - Parse AI Response",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.set",
"typeVersion": 3.4,
"position": [
980,
300
]
},
{
"parameters": {
"conditions": {
"options": {
"caseSensitive": false,
"leftValue": "",
"typeValidation": "strict"
},
"conditions": [
{
"id": "cond-001",
"leftValue": "={{ $json.ai_urgency }}",
"rightValue": "high",
"operator": {
"type": "string",
"operation": "equals"
}
}
],
"combinator": "and"
},
"options": {}
},
"id": "b1a2c3d4-0001-4000-8000-000000000008",
"name": "IF - Check Urgency",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.if",
"typeVersion": 2,
"position": [
1220,
300
]
},
{
"parameters": {
"authentication": "oAuth2",
"resource": "message",
"operation": "post",
"channel": {
"__rl": true,
"value": "#urgent-emails",
"mode": "name"
},
"text": "=:rotating_light: *URGENT EMAIL ALERT* :rotating_light:\n\n*From:* {{ $json.email_from }}\n*Subject:* {{ $json.email_subject }}\n*Date:* {{ $json.email_date }}\n\n*AI Summary:*\n{{ $json.ai_summary.map((s, i) => `${i+1}. ${s}`).join('\\n') }}\n\n*Suggested Action:* {{ $json.ai_suggested_action }}\n*Reply Needed:* {{ $json.ai_reply_needed ? 'Yes :white_check_mark:' : 'No :x:' }}\n*Urgency:* :red_circle: HIGH",
"otherOptions": {
"mrkdwn": true
}
},
"id": "b1a2c3d4-0001-4000-8000-000000000009",
"name": "Slack - Send Urgent Alert",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.slack",
"typeVersion": 2.2,
"position": [
1460,
160
],
"credentials": {
"slackOAuth2Api": {
"name": "<your credential>"
}
}
},
{
"parameters": {
"operation": "appendOrUpdate",
"documentId": {
"__rl": true,
"value": "YOUR_GOOGLE_SHEET_ID_HERE",
"mode": "id"
},
"sheetName": {
"__rl": true,
"value": "Email Log",
"mode": "name"
},
"columns": {
"mappingMode": "defineBelow",
"value": {
"Timestamp": "={{ $now.toISO() }}",
"Email ID": "={{ $json.email_id }}",
"From": "={{ $json.email_from }}",
"Subject": "={{ $json.email_subject }}",
"Date": "={{ $json.email_date }}",
"Summary": "={{ $json.ai_summary.join(' | ') }}",
"Urgency": "={{ $json.ai_urgency }}",
"Suggested Action": "={{ $json.ai_suggested_action }}",
"Reply Needed": "={{ $json.ai_reply_needed }}"
},
"matchingColumns": [
"Email ID"
],
"schema": []
},
"options": {}
},
"id": "b1a2c3d4-0001-4000-8000-000000000010",
"name": "Google Sheets - Log Non-Urgent",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets",
"typeVersion": 4.5,
"position": [
1460,
440
],
"credentials": {
"googleSheetsOAuth2Api": {
"name": "<your credential>"
}
}
},
{
"parameters": {},
"id": "b1a2c3d4-0001-4000-8000-000000000011",
"name": "Error Trigger",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.errorTrigger",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [
240,
620
]
},
{
"parameters": {
"authentication": "oAuth2",
"resource": "message",
"operation": "post",
"channel": {
"__rl": true,
"value": "#workflow-errors",
"mode": "name"
},
"text": "=:x: *Workflow Error: AI Email Summarizer*\n\n*Error:* {{ $json.execution.error.message }}\n*Node:* {{ $json.execution.lastNodeExecuted }}\n*Execution ID:* {{ $json.execution.id }}\n*Time:* {{ $now.toISO() }}\n\nPlease investigate in n8n dashboard.",
"otherOptions": {
"mrkdwn": true
}
},
"id": "b1a2c3d4-0001-4000-8000-000000000012",
"name": "Slack - Error Alert",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.slack",
"typeVersion": 2.2,
"position": [
500,
620
],
"credentials": {
"slackOAuth2Api": {
"name": "<your credential>"
}
}
},
{
"parameters": {
"content": "## Error Handling\n\nThe Error Trigger catches any execution errors from this workflow and sends a Slack alert to `#workflow-errors`.\n\nMake sure to set this workflow as the error workflow for itself in Settings.",
"height": 160,
"width": 320,
"color": 1
},
"id": "b1a2c3d4-0001-4000-8000-000000000013",
"name": "Sticky Note - Error Handling",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [
240,
800
]
},
{
"parameters": {
"content": "## Routing Logic\n\n- **High urgency** \u2192 Slack `#urgent-emails` channel\n- **Medium / Low urgency** \u2192 Google Sheets log\n\nCustomize the urgency threshold or add additional branches (e.g., medium urgency to a different Slack channel) as needed.",
"height": 180,
"width": 360,
"color": 4
},
"id": "b1a2c3d4-0001-4000-8000-000000000014",
"name": "Sticky Note - Routing",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [
1220,
-120
]
}
],
"connections": {
"Manual Trigger": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Set - Extract Email Fields",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Gmail Trigger": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Set - Extract Email Fields",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Set - Extract Email Fields": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "OpenAI - Summarize Email",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"OpenAI - Summarize Email": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Set - Parse AI Response",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Set - Parse AI Response": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "IF - Check Urgency",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"IF - Check Urgency": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Slack - Send Urgent Alert",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
],
[
{
"node": "Google Sheets - Log Non-Urgent",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Error Trigger": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Slack - Error Alert",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
}
},
"settings": {
"executionOrder": "v1",
"saveManualExecutions": true,
"callerPolicy": "workflowsFromSameOwner",
"errorWorkflow": "",
"saveExecutionProgress": true,
"saveDataSuccessExecution": "all",
"saveDataErrorExecution": "all",
"timezone": "UTC"
},
"staticData": null,
"tags": [
{
"createdAt": "2025-01-01T00:00:00.000Z",
"updatedAt": "2025-01-01T00:00:00.000Z",
"id": "tag-email-ai",
"name": "AI Automation"
},
{
"createdAt": "2025-01-01T00:00:00.000Z",
"updatedAt": "2025-01-01T00:00:00.000Z",
"id": "tag-email",
"name": "Email"
}
],
"triggerCount": 2,
"updatedAt": "2025-01-01T00:00:00.000Z",
"versionId": "v1.0.0",
"active": false
}
Credentials you'll need
Each integration node will prompt for credentials when you import. We strip credential IDs before publishing — you'll add your own.
gmailOAuth2googleSheetsOAuth2ApihttpHeaderAuthslackOAuth2Api
Pro
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About this workflow
AI Email Summarizer. Uses gmailTrigger, httpRequest, slack, googleSheets. Event-driven trigger; 14 nodes.
Source: https://github.com/humayun-sarfraz/n8n-ai-workflow-kit/blob/main/workflows/01-ai-email-summarizer.json — original creator credit. Request a take-down →
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