• n8n announced Chat Hub to centralize AI chat and model access inside its automation platform.
  • The new feature connects AI chat, model selection and direct workflow interaction under one interface.
  • Role-based controls are included to limit who can access models and interact with workflows.
  • The change aims to make AI use in automations easier to govern and scale across teams.

What n8n announced

n8n has introduced a feature called Chat Hub designed to centralize AI chat, model access and workflow interaction inside its automation platform. Announced on Jan. 28, 2026, the update brings a single entry point for talking to AI, choosing models and routing those outputs into n8n workflows — with role-based controls to manage who can do what.

Why this matters

Bringing chat, model access and workflow interaction together removes friction for teams that already use AI inside automations. Instead of separate plugins, scripts or scattered API keys, Chat Hub intends to create a unified experience that makes it easier to prototype, test and run AI-driven automations.

The inclusion of role-based controls addresses a common concern for companies: uncontrolled model use and data exposure. By offering permissions and user roles, n8n is positioning Chat Hub as a governance-friendly way to scale AI across teams without giving everyone full access to every model or workflow.

How teams can use Chat Hub

While product specifics vary by organization, Chat Hub is aimed at typical automation scenarios: using an AI chat to draft messages, summarize inputs, enrich records or trigger conditional workflow branches. Because Chat Hub integrates chat and workflow interaction, users should be able to move from conversational prompts to automated steps faster than before.

This is particularly useful for teams that want a hands-on, iterative approach to building automations: a user can test a prompt in Chat Hub, tune the output, then wire that output directly into an existing workflow. Role-based restrictions let administrators limit who can access sensitive models or modify production flows.

Governance, security and next steps

n8n’s move signals attention to two priorities that enterprises often demand: usability and governance. Centralizing AI access simplifies adoption for product and operations teams, while access controls help reduce the risk of accidental data leaks or unauthorized model usage.

What remains to be seen are the integration details — which AI models are available through Chat Hub, whether users can add custom models or API keys, and how audit logs and monitoring are surfaced. n8n’s documentation and release notes will be important for teams evaluating the update.

Bottom line

Chat Hub consolidates AI chat, model selection and workflow interaction into n8n’s automation environment and adds role-based controls to help govern usage. The feature aims to make AI-driven automations easier to build and safer to run across teams, but organizations should review integration and audit capabilities before wide deployment.

Image Referance: https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2026/01/28/n8n-chat-hub-centralize-ai-access/