n8n Workflow: Monitor New AI Model Releases (MCP)

Stay ahead of new AI model releases—automatically

This n8n workflow monitors Columbus.tools for the latest AI model release announcements. It runs daily (or manually), pulls new items from the MCP endpoint using list_model_releases, deduplicates results across runs, and generates a ready-to-send bulletin—optionally posting it to your notification webhook.

What this workflow does

• Schedules or runs on demand: execute manually or every day at 09:00 (adjustable).
• Connects to Columbus.tools via MCP: sends an MCP JSON-RPC initialize request to https://columbus.tools/api/mcp to establish compatibility and capture an optional session ID.
• Fetches release announcements: calls the Columbus.tools MCP tool list_model_releases and retrieves the response as JSON or SSE text.
• Validates responses: parses the MCP response, extracts release items, and raises an error if an error payload is returned.
• Deduplicates across runs: uses workflow static data so only new announcements are included in the next bulletin.
• Formats a bulletin message: compiles each entry with company/model/date/link plus the Columbus model release map URL.
• Optional webhook notification: if enabled, posts the bulletin text to your provided webhook endpoint.

Use cases

• SaaS operators and product teams: get an automated daily digest of relevant AI model updates.
• Automation engineers: use a proven pattern for MCP calls, parsing, and deduplication in n8n.
• Research/ops monitoring: quickly track new model releases without manually checking Columbus.tools.

Technical details

• Columbus.tools MCP via HTTP request to /api/mcp with an API key (e.g., COLUMBUS_API_KEY).
• Nodes/stages include: Manual Trigger, Schedule Trigger, HTTP Request, Code, Set, and optional notification via webhook.
• Tool used: list_model_releases (with optional arguments configurable during setup).

Get started: add your Columbus.tools API key, keep the default 09:00 schedule or change it, and (if desired) enable the final webhook step to deliver the bulletin automatically.