Build a Free AI News Digest with n8n, REST API & Any AI CLI

Learn how to build a fully automated AI-powered news digest system that runs daily, curates the top 5 AI news stories, and delivers them to your inbox - all without paying for expensive automation platforms.

This guide shows you how to use any AI CLI tool to programmatically create n8n workflows via the REST API, giving you complete control over your automation infrastructure.

AI CLI Options (all work for this guide):

• Claude Code - Anthropic's CLI (paid, but powerful)
• Cursor - Free tier available
• Gemini CLI - Free with Google account
• Any AI assistant with terminal access

What you'll build: A scheduled workflow that fetches AI news, uses Gemini to rank articles by importance and source reputation, formats them into a beautiful HTML email, and sends it to you every morning at 8am.

Prerequisites

Before starting, you'll need:

• Basic terminal/command line knowledge
• A computer (Mac, Linux, or Windows with WSL)
• ~30 minutes for initial setup
• An AI CLI tool (Claude Code, Cursor, or similar) - optional but recommended

Cost Breakdown

Architecture Overview

Here's what we're building:

┌─────────────────┐     ┌─────────────────┐     ┌─────────────────┐
│  Schedule       │────▶│  NewsAPI        │────▶│  Gemini AI      │
│  (8am daily)    │     │  (Fetch news)   │     │  (Rank top 5)   │
└─────────────────┘     └─────────────────┘     └─────────────────┘
                                                        │
                                                        ▼
┌─────────────────┐     ┌─────────────────┐     ┌─────────────────┐
│  Your Inbox     │◀────│  SMTP/Resend    │◀────│  Format HTML    │
│  (Daily digest) │     │  (Send email)   │     │  (Style output) │
└─────────────────┘     └─────────────────┘     └─────────────────┘

Why REST API Instead of UI?

• Reproducible: Save your workflow as code, version control it
• AI-assisted: Let any AI CLI build complex workflows for you
• Faster: No clicking through menus - just one API call
• Scriptable: Integrate workflow creation into CI/CD pipelines

Setting Up n8n Locally

Option 1: Using npm (Recommended for development)

# Install n8n globally
npm install -g n8n

# Start n8n
n8n start

n8n will be available at http://localhost:5678

Option 2: Using Docker

# Create a directory for n8n data
mkdir ~/.n8n-docker

# Run n8n in Docker
docker run -it --rm \
  --name n8n \
  -p 5678:5678 \
  -v ~/.n8n-docker:/home/node/.n8n \
  n8nio/n8n

Option 3: From Source (Advanced)

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n.git
cd n8n

# Install dependencies
pnpm install

# Build and start
pnpm build
pnpm start

First-Time Setup

1. Open http://localhost:5678 in your browser
2. Create your admin account
3. Complete the onboarding wizard

Getting Your API Keys

1. n8n API Key (Required)

This is how we'll create workflows programmatically:

1. In n8n, go to Settings (bottom left)
2. Click API
3. Click Create API Key
4. Copy and save your key securely

# Save it as an environment variable
export N8N_API_KEY="your-api-key-here"

2. NewsAPI Key (Free)

1. Go to newsapi.org
2. Click Get API Key
3. Sign up (free account)
4. Copy your API key

export NEWS_API_KEY="your-newsapi-key"

3. Google Gemini API Key (Free)

1. Go to Google AI Studio
2. Sign in with your Google account
3. Click Create API Key
4. Copy your API key

Then add it as a credential in n8n:

1. Go to Credentials in n8n
2. Click Add Credential
3. Search for Google Gemini
4. Paste your API key and save

4. Resend SMTP (Free)

Resend offers a generous free tier (3,000 emails/month):

1. Go to resend.com
2. Sign up for free
3. Verify your domain or use their test domain
4. Go to SMTP settings and copy:
   • Host: smtp.resend.com
   • Port: 465
   • Username: resend
   • Password: Your API key

Add SMTP credentials in n8n:

1. Go to Credentials in n8n
2. Click Add Credential
3. Search for SMTP
4. Fill in:
   • Host: smtp.resend.com
   • Port: 465
   • User: resend
   • Password: Your Resend API key
   • SSL/TLS: Enabled

Creating the Workflow via REST API

Now the fun part - creating the entire workflow with a single API call.

Understanding the n8n REST API

The n8n REST API follows standard REST conventions:

Testing API Connection

# Test your API key
curl -s -H "X-N8N-API-KEY: $N8N_API_KEY" \
  http://localhost:5678/api/v1/workflows | jq

You should see a list of your existing workflows (or an empty array).

Creating the Complete Workflow

Here's the complete workflow JSON. Save this as ai-news-workflow.json:

{
  "name": "Daily AI News Digest",
  "nodes": [
    {
      "parameters": {
        "rule": {
          "interval": [
            {
              "field": "hours",
              "hoursInterval": 24,
              "triggerAtHour": 8
            }
          ]
        }
      },
      "id": "schedule-trigger",
      "name": "Daily 8am Trigger",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.scheduleTrigger",
      "typeVersion": 1.2,
      "position": [0, 0]
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "url": "https://newsapi.org/v2/everything",
        "sendQuery": true,
        "queryParameters": {
          "parameters": [
            {
              "name": "q",
              "value": "(artificial intelligence) OR (OpenAI) OR (Google AI) OR (Claude) OR (LLM) OR (GPT)"
            },
            {
              "name": "sortBy",
              "value": "publishedAt"
            },
            {
              "name": "language",
              "value": "en"
            },
            {
              "name": "pageSize",
              "value": "30"
            },
            {
              "name": "apiKey",
              "value": "YOUR_NEWSAPI_KEY"
            }
          ]
        },
        "options": {}
      },
      "id": "http-newsapi",
      "name": "Fetch AI News",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest",
      "typeVersion": 4.2,
      "position": [220, 0]
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "jsCode": "const articles = $input.first().json.articles || [];\nconst articleList = articles.map((a, i) => `${i + 1}. \"${a.title}\"\\n   Source: ${a.source?.name || 'Unknown'}\\n   Description: ${a.description || 'No description'}\\n   URL: ${a.url}`).join('\\n\\n');\nconst prompt = `You are an AI news curator. Analyze these AI articles and select the TOP 5 most important based on:\\n- Source reputation (tier 1: OpenAI, Google, Anthropic blogs; tier 2: TechCrunch, Verge, Wired)\\n- Industry impact\\n- Developer relevance\\n\\nReturn ONLY a JSON array with 5 objects containing: title, source, summary (2 sentences), url, importance.\\n\\nArticles:\\n\\n${articleList}\\n\\nJSON array only:`;\nreturn [{ json: { prompt, articleCount: articles.length } }];"
      },
      "id": "code-prepare",
      "name": "Prepare AI Prompt",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.code",
      "typeVersion": 2,
      "position": [440, 0]
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "modelName": "models/gemini-2.5-flash",
        "options": {
          "temperature": 0.3
        }
      },
      "id": "gemini-model",
      "name": "Gemini 2.5 Flash",
      "type": "@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.lmChatGoogleGemini",
      "typeVersion": 1,
      "position": [660, 200]
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "prompt": "={{ $json.prompt }}",
        "options": {}
      },
      "id": "llm-chain",
      "name": "Rank Articles",
      "type": "@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.chainLlm",
      "typeVersion": 1,
      "position": [660, 0]
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "jsCode": "const response = $input.first().json.text || $input.first().json.response || '';\nconst today = new Date().toISOString().split('T')[0];\nlet articles;\ntry {\n  const jsonMatch = response.match(/\\[\\s*\\{[\\s\\S]*\\}\\s*\\]/);\n  articles = jsonMatch ? JSON.parse(jsonMatch[0]) : JSON.parse(response);\n} catch (e) {\n  return [{ json: { html: `<h1>Error</h1><pre>${response}</pre>`, subject: `AI News Digest - ${today}` } }];\n}\nlet html = `<!DOCTYPE html><html><head><style>body{font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,sans-serif;max-width:700px;margin:0 auto;padding:20px;background:#f5f5f5}.container{background:white;border-radius:12px;padding:30px;box-shadow:0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.1)}h1{color:#1a1a1a;border-bottom:3px solid #6366f1;padding-bottom:15px}.subtitle{color:#666;font-size:14px;margin-bottom:30px}.article{margin-bottom:25px;padding:20px;background:#fafafa;border-radius:8px;border-left:4px solid #6366f1}.article h2{margin:0 0 8px;font-size:18px;color:#1a1a1a}.article .source{color:#6366f1;font-weight:600;font-size:13px;margin-bottom:10px}.article .summary{color:#444;line-height:1.6;margin-bottom:10px}.article .importance{color:#666;font-style:italic;font-size:13px;margin-bottom:12px}.article a{color:#6366f1;text-decoration:none;font-weight:500}.footer{margin-top:30px;padding-top:20px;border-top:1px solid #eee;color:#999;font-size:12px;text-align:center}</style></head><body><div class=\"container\"><h1>AI News Digest</h1><p class=\"subtitle\">${today} - Top 5 stories curated by AI</p>`;\narticles.slice(0,5).forEach((a,i) => {\n  html += `<div class=\"article\"><h2>${i+1}. ${a.title}</h2><div class=\"source\">${a.source}</div><p class=\"summary\">${a.summary}</p>${a.importance ? `<p class=\"importance\">Why: ${a.importance}</p>` : ''}<a href=\"${a.url}\">Read more</a></div>`;\n});\nhtml += `<div class=\"footer\">Generated at ${new Date().toLocaleTimeString()} - n8n + Gemini</div></div></body></html>`;\nreturn [{ json: { html, subject: `AI News Digest - ${today}` } }];"
      },
      "id": "code-format",
      "name": "Format HTML Email",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.code",
      "typeVersion": 2,
      "position": [880, 0]
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "fromEmail": "news@yourdomain.com",
        "toEmail": "you@example.com",
        "subject": "={{ $json.subject }}",
        "emailFormat": "html",
        "html": "={{ $json.html }}",
        "options": {}
      },
      "id": "send-email",
      "name": "Send Digest Email",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.emailSend",
      "typeVersion": 2.1,
      "position": [1100, 0]
    }
  ],
  "connections": {
    "Daily 8am Trigger": {
      "main": [[{"node": "Fetch AI News", "type": "main", "index": 0}]]
    },
    "Fetch AI News": {
      "main": [[{"node": "Prepare AI Prompt", "type": "main", "index": 0}]]
    },
    "Prepare AI Prompt": {
      "main": [[{"node": "Rank Articles", "type": "main", "index": 0}]]
    },
    "Gemini 2.5 Flash": {
      "ai_languageModel": [[{"node": "Rank Articles", "type": "ai_languageModel", "index": 0}]]
    },
    "Rank Articles": {
      "main": [[{"node": "Format HTML Email", "type": "main", "index": 0}]]
    },
    "Format HTML Email": {
      "main": [[{"node": "Send Digest Email", "type": "main", "index": 0}]]
    }
  },
  "settings": {
    "executionOrder": "v1"
  }
}

Deploy the Workflow

Option A: Create new workflow

curl -X POST \
  -H "X-N8N-API-KEY: $N8N_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d @ai-news-workflow.json \
  http://localhost:5678/api/v1/workflows

Option B: Update existing workflow

# Replace WORKFLOW_ID with your workflow's ID
curl -X PUT \
  -H "X-N8N-API-KEY: $N8N_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d @ai-news-workflow.json \
  http://localhost:5678/api/v1/workflows/WORKFLOW_ID

Using Any AI CLI

If you have an AI CLI (Claude Code, Cursor, Gemini CLI, etc.), you can let it build the workflow for you:

You: Create an n8n workflow that fetches AI news daily at 8am,
     uses Gemini to rank the top 5 articles, and sends me an
     HTML email digest. Use the REST API to deploy it.

AI CLI: [Builds and deploys the entire workflow automatically]

Any AI assistant with terminal access can:

• Generate the workflow JSON based on your requirements
• Make the API calls to create/update workflows
• Troubleshoot issues in real-time
• Modify the workflow based on feedback

Tip: Cursor's free tier and Gemini CLI are great free alternatives if you don't have a paid AI subscription.

Post-Deployment Configuration

After creating the workflow via API, you need to configure credentials in the n8n UI:

1. Open http://localhost:5678
2. Find your new workflow
3. Click on Gemini 2.5 Flash node → Select your Gemini credential
4. Click on Send Digest Email node → Select your SMTP credential
5. Update the email addresses (from/to)
6. Click Save
7. Toggle the workflow to Active

Testing the Workflow

# Execute the workflow manually via API
curl -X POST \
  -H "X-N8N-API-KEY: $N8N_API_KEY" \
  http://localhost:5678/api/v1/workflows/WORKFLOW_ID/execute

Or click Test Workflow in the n8n UI.

Deployment Options for 24/7 Operation

Running n8n on your laptop means it only works when your computer is on. Here are free/cheap alternatives:

Option 1: Raspberry Pi (~$35-50 one-time)

Perfect for home automation:

# On Raspberry Pi (Raspberry Pi OS)
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_18.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs
sudo npm install -g n8n

# Create systemd service for auto-start
sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/n8n.service

Add this content:

[Unit]
Description=n8n Workflow Automation
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=pi
ExecStart=/usr/bin/n8n start
Restart=on-failure
Environment=N8N_PORT=5678

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Enable and start:

sudo systemctl enable n8n
sudo systemctl start n8n

Option 2: Free VPS Tiers

Some providers offer free tiers:

• Oracle Cloud: Free tier with 2 AMD instances
• Google Cloud: $300 free credits for 90 days
• Azure: $200 free credits for 30 days

Option 3: Old Laptop/Mini PC

Repurpose old hardware:

1. Install Ubuntu Server (lightweight)
2. Follow the npm installation
3. Set up as systemd service
4. Configure port forwarding if needed

Option 4: Docker on Home Server

If you have a NAS or home server:

# docker-compose.yml
version: '3.8'
services:
  n8n:
    image: n8nio/n8n
    restart: always
    ports:
      - "5678:5678"
    volumes:
      - n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n
    environment:
      - N8N_SECURE_COOKIE=false

volumes:
  n8n_data:

Cheap Cloud Deployment Options

If you want hassle-free cloud hosting without managing infrastructure, these are affordable options:

Railway (~$5/month)

Railway offers simple container deployments with a generous free tier to start:

1. Go to Railway (referral link for credits)
2. Click New Project → Deploy from Template
3. Search for n8n and deploy
4. Railway handles SSL, domains, and auto-restarts

Pricing: Pay for what you use, typically $5-10/month for light automation.

Hostinger VPS (~$5/month)

If you want more control with a traditional VPS:

1. Go to Hostinger (referral link for discount)
2. Choose the cheapest VPS plan (~$5/month)
3. Select Ubuntu 22.04
4. SSH into your server and run:

# Install Node.js
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_18.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs

# Install n8n
sudo npm install -g n8n

# Run with PM2 for auto-restart
sudo npm install -g pm2
pm2 start n8n --name n8n
pm2 save
pm2 startup

Benefits: Full control, can run multiple services, fixed monthly cost.

Cost Comparison

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Issue: "Invalid API Key" from NewsAPI

Cause: Free tier only works with localhost, not production domains.

Solution: For production, either:

• Upgrade to paid NewsAPI plan
• Use alternative free news sources (RSS feeds)

Issue: Gemini returns malformed JSON

Cause: AI sometimes adds explanation text around the JSON.

Solution: The code includes regex to extract JSON from the response:

const jsonMatch = response.match(/\[\s*\{[\s\S]*\}\s*\]/);
articles = jsonMatch ? JSON.parse(jsonMatch[0]) : JSON.parse(response);

Issue: Emails going to spam

Cause: Domain not properly configured for email sending.

Solution:

1. Verify your domain in Resend
2. Add SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records
3. Use a consistent "from" address

Issue: Workflow not triggering at scheduled time

Cause: n8n must be running for schedules to work.

Solution: Deploy to always-on infrastructure (see Deployment Options above).

Customization Ideas

Once you have the basic workflow running, try these enhancements:

Different News Topics

Change the search query in the HTTP Request node:

// Crypto news
"(bitcoin) OR (ethereum) OR (cryptocurrency) OR (DeFi)"

// Tech startups
"(startup funding) OR (Series A) OR (YCombinator) OR (venture capital)"

// Cybersecurity
"(data breach) OR (ransomware) OR (zero-day) OR (CVE)"

Multiple Delivery Channels

Add nodes to send to:

• Slack (Slack node)
• Discord (Discord node)
• Telegram (Telegram node)
• Notion (Notion node)

Weekly Summary Instead of Daily

Change the Schedule Trigger to weekly:

{
  "rule": {
    "interval": [{
      "field": "weeks",
      "weeksInterval": 1,
      "triggerAtDay": 1,
      "triggerAtHour": 9
    }]
  }
}

Additional Resources

• n8n Documentation
• n8n REST API Reference
• Resend Documentation
• Google Gemini API
• NewsAPI Documentation

Questions? Open an issue or join our community discussions!

Related content

• 📘 n8n Complete Beginners Guide — First time with n8n? Start here
• 📘 Complete RAG Guide: 4 Methods — Take your workflows to the next level by connecting them with knowledge bases
• 📝 n8n is Now an AI-First Platform — The context on why n8n became the ideal tool for AI workflows