Human in the loop email response system (AI + IMAP)
Needs changesNeeds changes. This template uses 1 thing(s) that n8n 3.0 removes: AI Agent v1 (old agent modes). 1 breaking item(s) found. Static check, last run 2026-10-19.
What to replace before upgrading
| Removed in 3.0 | Replace with |
|---|---|
| AI Agent v1 (old agent modes) Write email (v1.7) | Latest AI Agent node (Tools Agent). For SQL Agent, use a Postgres or MySQL tool with a recent AI Agent. |
Nodes used (8)
- Email Trigger (IMAP)
n8n-nodes-base.emailReadImap - Markdown
n8n-nodes-base.markdown - Send Email
n8n-nodes-base.emailSend - Summarization Chain
@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.chainSummarization - AI Agent
@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.agent - OpenAI Chat Model
@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.lmChatOpenAi - Edit Fields (Set)
n8n-nodes-base.set - If
n8n-nodes-base.if
What it does
How it works This workflow automates the process of handling incoming emails by: 1. Receiving emails via IMAP. 2. Converting the email to Markdown for better AI understanding. 3. Summarizing the email using an AI model. 4. Drafting a professional reply with AI, based on the summary. 5. Requesting human approval for the AI-generated response. 6. Sending the approved reply back to the original sender. --- Set up steps Estimated time: 10–20 minutes (excluding credential setup) What you’ll need: - IMAP credentials for your email inbox - SMTP credentials for sending emails - OpenAI (or compatible) API key for AI steps Setup outline: 1. Add your IMAP and SMTP credentials to the workflow. 2. Connect your OpenAI (or compatible) account for AI summarization and reply generation. 3. Deploy the workflow in n8n and activate it. 4. Test by sending an email to your connected inbox. Note: Detailed configuration tips and explanations are included as sticky notes inside the workflow for each step.