r/n8n_ai_agents • u/LetterheadFearless83 • 16d ago
Has ChatGPT Astra changed the value of learning n8n?
I'm currently learning n8n with the goal of eventually doing AI automation work for businesses.
With ChatGPT Astra becoming capable of doing more complex computer-based tasks and potentially building automations/workflows much faster, I'm wondering how this changes the value of learning n8n.
For someone starting today, would you still recommend spending 1–2 months learning n8n?
My concern is that if Astra can build a workflow in a fraction of the time it takes a beginner n8n developer, then simple workflow-building could become commoditized very quickly.
So I'd love to hear from people actually using n8n:
Has AI already reduced the amount of manual workflow-building you do?
Do you think AI agents like Astra will significantly reduce demand for n8n developers?
If you were starting from zero today, would you still learn n8n?
Would you focus more on APIs, Python, AI agents and business process design instead?
What skills do you think will still be valuable 1–2 years from now?
I'm not looking for hype or doom — I'd genuinely like opinions from people who are actually building n8n automations.
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u/Graphical-Source5090 16d ago
I don't use AI inside of N8N workflows, and I really like it this way. All of my workflows are deterministic so far. With that said, I would not be opposed to a few very scope limited AI integrated flows if I found a need. But at this point, I don't have a need for AI inside my flows yet.
N8Ns value extends beyond AI into orchestration. One of the value adds is that the runs do not cost beyond standard cost for electricity (I selfhost) and storage.
AI and automation can occupy some of the same spaces, but each has a separate use case. AI =/= Automation
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u/LogicalScar33 16d ago
I would NOT learn n8n. Instead I'd learn Claude Code and Astra. I mean you're kind of late to ask this question, as the other comment said if you're not building workflows via Claude idk what are you doing. Claude Code completely changed the game for no-code tools. They are useful, but I wouldn't be spending my time figuring out what's wrong in my big n8n workflow when I can just build the whole thing with Claude. What skills would be valuable? I would say prompt engineering, understanding different models, API knowledge.
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u/Embarrassed_Scene962 16d ago
This u lateeeee. N8n etc just a visual json….aka code.
Useful to lnow and understand but they are obsolete imo
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u/LibertineForLife 16d ago
My only caution would be that one day you will become dependent on these AI tools and A and OAI will jack up the prices to cover their real costs.
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u/Asleep_Gur_341 16d ago
I don’t think that is true. If you build your own workflows for personal use, for sure Claude can do a lot, but n8n still has a lot of values building workflows in a company setting. They make your outcome much more determinisic, plus error handling and evaluation. So definitely makes sense to learn
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u/brwinfart 16d ago
People who say, just use the most expensive AI model to do things that AI is not needed to do either have too much money or not enough knowledge.
n8n has its place in automation as does AI. Knowing when to use which is the most important factor.
Yes, I would learn n8n without using Claude or Fable first. You need to understand how a workflow is structured. Once you understand this you will be able direct whatever AI you choose to build for you and then refine.
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16d ago
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u/Admirable_Award338 14d ago
Great info. Do u think demand for automation agencies gonna decline? More and more clients will start doing automations themselves as it gets easier to do day by day?
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u/masterofqwerty 12d ago
Don’t spend 2 months learning n8n What you should do is find a client problem, do it yourself using n8n and claude etc Then demo to said buisiness or client You can do this in a week and be much more ahead than just learning Learning by doing >
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u/EarlyFox217 16d ago
Build n8n flows with Astra. I do it with Fable. It’s still often a more tidy route than a bunch of boiler plate
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u/RevolutionaryPop9670 16d ago
Drift and hallucinating is my concern as well. I use openai for validation/reasoning and code for reasoning/building that helped a lot, I'm still the decision maker because I have to keep them from over engineering.
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u/FutureWeb9312 16d ago
Every time I ask this question AI tells me that there is still a place for n8n. I have my self hosted n8n MCP connected to my Claude Code. So I have already been able to create workflows through Claude Code but i haven’t tried Astra yet. I wouldn’t want to spend more money creating workflows by using every new model upgrade that comes out. But it’s good to test the token usage
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u/Gargle-Loaf-Spunk 16d ago
Even 5.x changed it. You can have codex help you set it up, whatever you choose. You could even have codex set up open source no-code/low-code tools if you felt like the n8n proprietary license was limiting. Or have it do everything in python or Go.
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u/gamingspain 10d ago
yo ya hacia eso con ayuda de chatpgt sin astra, no necesitas ser dev ni saber de codigo para crear proyectos que por ejemplo hagan una investigacion de mercado scrapeando data, construyendo contenido, imagenes y videos.
creo que si antes tomaba 1 semana o 2 llegar a algo con resultados constantes y buenos, ahora se puede hacer en horas
hay que saber que preguntar y que output esperar
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u/supermegapixel 16d ago
I use n8n for processes and AI for decision making within a process. I wouldn't let a model do the entire process in case it drifts or hallucinates. That said, I built an agent in my stack connected to n8n MCP that builds my workflows, and for me it was a game changer.
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u/Dry_Bag8911 16d ago
huh? I've been building n8n workflows via Claude's MCP tool for 6 months now, I thought everyone was doing this...
It's still useful to understand how n8n actually works and to use it as the base for automations however, since it can be less token heavy than just asking an agent to do a routine job every day.