AI Assistant file creation does not expose generated files as downloadable artifacts

[dousfyn]

Bug Description

Issue Summary

The n8n AI Assistant can create files internally, but the generated files are not exposed to users through the chat UI as downloadable attachments or artifacts.

This happens in a fresh AI Assistant conversation.

To Reproduce

1. Open n8n AI Assistant in a new conversation.
2. Send this prompt:

p, coba attach file yang bisa gw klik download button-nya.
misal xyz.md, isinya cuma # Hello World

3. Wait for the AI Assistant response.
4. Observe that the AI Assistant creates/references the file.
5. Observe that no downloadable attachment or artifact appears in the UI.
6. Open the Artifacts panel and check the generated files.
7. The panel shows no generated artifact available for download.

Expected behavior

When the AI Assistant creates a file, the generated file should be exposed to the user through the chat UI as a downloadable attachment or artifact.

If the file cannot be exposed to the user, the assistant should not state or imply that the user can download it.

Debug Info

The AI Assistant reports that the file was created successfully, for example:

File: xyz.md
Content:

Hello World

The assistant also provides an internal workspace path:

/home/daytona/workspace/xyz.md

However, the generated file is not available through the UI:

• No download button
• No file attachment
• No artifact entry

This issue is reproducible in a fresh AI Assistant conversation.

Operating System

n8n Cloud (server environment)

n8n Version

2.35.1

Node.js Version

Not applicable (n8n Cloud)

Database

SQLite (default)

Execution mode

main (default)

Hosting

n8n cloud

[n8n-assistant]

Hey @dousfyn,

Thank you for reaching out! We’ve received your issue and are looking into it. To help us track this internally, we’ve created a Linear ticket with the reference: "GHC-9280".

We’ll keep you updated as we make progress, but if you have any additional details or context to share, feel free to add them here - it’s always helpful!

Thanks for your patience and for bringing this to our attention.

---

For INTERNAL use only: GHC-9280

[dousfyn]

This may be related to missing artifact handling between the AI Assistant tool execution environment and the chat frontend.

The assistant appears to successfully create files internally, but the generated output is not propagated back to the user interface.

[Abhi-05-git]

Hi! I’d be interested in working on this issue. I can investigate how generated files are propagated from the AI Assistant execution environment to the chat UI and add a regression test. Please let me know if it’s okay for me to pick this up.