Inbox
AI email triage: a 20-minute setup
Sort your inbox with a small set of rules, summaries, and auto-drafts.
Oct 22, 2024 · 1 min read
Key takeaways
- Triage is about fewer decisions, not perfect replies.
- Start with three buckets and refine later.
- AI summaries make batch review easy.
Inbox overload happens because every message feels urgent. Triage creates a small number of decisions you can move through fast.
Step-by-step: the 20-minute setup
- Create three labels: Act, Wait, Archive.
- Add filters for newsletters and low-priority alerts.
- Turn on AI summaries (or use an add-on).
- Draft reply templates for common requests.
- Block 15 minutes daily for batch review.
Batch workflow
Skim summaries first. Only open full threads when you need to reply. Move everything else to Archive.
FAQ
Will this miss urgent emails?
No if you keep a lightweight alert rule for priority senders.
What about shared inboxes?
Start with one label per teammate so assignments are clear.
Tools mentioned
- Gmail (affiliate)Why we like it: Filters and labels are still the backbone.
- Superhuman (affiliate)Why we like it: AI snippets and split inboxes help triage.
- Shortwave (affiliate)Why we like it: Built-in summaries and AI tagging.
About the author
AI Shortcuts Team · Workflow researcher
We test AI tools with real calendars, inboxes, and family schedules so you can steal the shortcut without the chaos.
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