Build an AI-powered SMS support system with Twilio, GPT-4 and PostgreSQL
Needs changesNeeds changes. This template uses 2 thing(s) that n8n 3.0 removes: OpenAI (legacy), Cron. 2 breaking item(s) found. Static check, last run 2026-10-19.
What to replace before upgrading
| Removed in 3.0 | Replace with |
|---|---|
| OpenAI (legacy) 🤖 AI Sentiment Analysis, 🤖 AI Intake Enrichment, 🤖 AI Response Generator, 🤖 AI Personalized Closeout, 🤖 AI Personalized Reminder | OpenAI node (AI section) |
| Cron Follow-Up Cron (24h) | Schedule Trigger |
Nodes used (10)
- Postgres
n8n-nodes-base.postgres - HTTP Request
n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest - Switch
n8n-nodes-base.switch - Code
n8n-nodes-base.code - Respond to Webhook
n8n-nodes-base.respondToWebhook - Webhook
n8n-nodes-base.webhook - OpenAI
n8n-nodes-base.openAi - Gmail
n8n-nodes-base.gmail - AWS S3
n8n-nodes-base.awsS3 - Cron
n8n-nodes-base.cron
What it does
How it works 1. User Signup & Verification: The workflow starts when a user signs up. It generates a verification code and sends it via SMS using Twilio. 2. Code Validation: The user replies with the code. The workflow checks the code and, if valid, creates a session for the user. 3. Conversational AI: Incoming SMS messages are analyzed by Chat GPT AI for sentiment, intent, and urgency. The workflow stores the conversation context and generates smart, AI-powered replies. 4. Escalation Handling: If the AI detects urgency or frustration, the workflow escalates the session—alerting your team and sending a supportive SMS to the user. --- Set up steps - Estimated setup time: 10–20 minutes for most users. - What you’ll need: - A free n8n account (self-hosted or cloud) - Free Twilio account (for SMS) - OpenAI API key (for AI) - A PostgreSQL database (Supabase, Neon, or local) - Setup process: 1. Import this workflow into n8n. 2. Add your Twilio and OpenAI credentials as environment variables or n8n credentials. 3. Update webhook URLs in your Twilio console (for incoming SMS). 4. (Optional) Adjust sticky notes in the workflow for detailed, step-by-step guidance.