n8n has unveiled n8n Agents in preview, a feature that lets teams describe outcomes in plain language and have an AI agent determine steps using selected tools and channels, complementing existing workflows rather than replacing them.

Implementation guidance advises starting with a bounded task, well-scoped credentials, and an approval checkpoint, recognizing that structured workflows remain essential for repeatable processes.

Three operating models describe how Agents and workflows can coexist: Agent-led tasks with workflows as tools, Workflow-led sequences with Agents as tools, and a mixed model where both handle tasks suited to their strengths.

The Agent toolset includes built-in n8n integrations, MCP servers, existing workflows exposed as tools, and sub-agents, with memory and sessions to preserve context and knowledge grounding through files like CSVs and PDFs; per-tool credentials and approvals help limit access.

Practical use cases include morning summaries, ticket triage, research tasks, email organization, receipt logging, and converting image notes into tasks, emphasizing augmentation of human-driven processes with flexible AI-driven interpretation rather than full autonomy.

Agents can connect to channels such as Slack, Telegram, Discord, and Linear, and can be driven by chat, on a schedule, or from within a workflow, enabling flexible interactions like turning photos into tasks or logging receipts.

Agents operate as a first-class component alongside workflows, with builders setting the objective, choosing a model, and granting context and tools to enable decision-making on steps based on incoming requests.

A new "Message an Agent" node enables two-way integration so workflows can invoke agents and agents can access workflows as tools, broadening use cases beyond standalone AI chat assistants.

Availability is in preview on n8n Cloud for the latest stable version, with self-hosting requiring extra setup and enterprise self-hosting support planned; pricing details were not disclosed in the announcement.