What is n8n AI agent?

The key difference between an automation workflow and an AI agent lies in their structure and autonomy.

• Automation workflow is a structured and predefined sequence of steps designed to handle specific, usually repetitive tasks. These workflows follow explicit rules laid out by a developer: "if X happens, then do Y." Workflows are predictable, linear, and operate within fixed boundaries without deviation. They are excellent for consistent, well-mapped processes where control and reliability are priorities.
• AI agent, on the other hand, is an autonomous system that is goal-oriented and capable of making decisions independently. Instead of following a fixed sequence, AI agents analyze their environment, plan their own steps to reach goals, adapt to new information, and handle complex or unforeseen situations dynamically. They choose their own actions, can learn over time, and operate flexibly with minimal human intervention.

n8n AI agents are autonomous, intelligent workflows that leverage large language models (LLMs) and integrated tools to perform complex tasks without predefined, rigid rules. 

They act as decision-making entities within n8n, capable of interpreting user intents, planning multi-step actions, and executing them through connected services and APIs. By embedding AI Agent nodes, n8n enables developers and non-developers alike to create adaptive systems that can, for instance, analyze data, generate content, manage appointments, and perform autonomous research. 

These agents extend n8n’s traditional workflow automation by introducing reasoning engines, tool integrations, memory management, and real-time decision-making. 

Yes, you can run n8n locally on your machine.

Choose the method that fits your workflow and environment. If you need portability or plan to scale to multiple servers later, Docker is often the easiest path. If you just want a quick start with minimal setup, the npm method or Desktop App will get you running in minutes.