AI with an inspectable workflow
n8n builds workflow automation software in which integrations and logic appear as connected nodes on a canvas. Its AI contribution includes using an assistant to turn a stated outcome into that same editable workflow, then running the result and reading execution data. The output remains a process a team can inspect and change after the conversation ends. [1]
The software is available under n8n's Sustainable Use License and commercial licensing. The documentation describes its approach as fair-code and source-available. Those terms matter for developers deciding whether they can self-host, redistribute or incorporate the software into a commercial service; access to source code does not imply unrestricted use. [2]
Building, running and revising
n8n Assistant launched on September 9, 2026 as a preview feature. The company described a loop in which the assistant plans a workflow, creates nodes, requests needed credentials, executes it and proposes fixes when a node fails. Credential access and activation require confirmation. [1]
At launch, the feature was enabled by default on new Cloud instances outside Enterprise Cloud. Docker self-hosting required additional configuration and user-supplied keys, while npm self-hosting was unsupported and enterprise availability remained on the roadmap. The release explicitly said the first generated workflow was not guaranteed to be production-ready. That access scope and review requirement are part of the milestone, alongside the new authoring capability. [1]
Sources
- Introducing n8n Assistant
n8n · Sep 9, 2026
- Community license
n8n · retrieved Oct 23, 2026