Summarise Gmail with AI
Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆ Getting Started · Estimated time: ~5 to 20 minutes (depending on the path you choose)
You come back from a week of leave. Your inbox has 340 unread emails. There are 12 from your manager, a few newsletters you meant to cancel, three meeting invites buried somewhere in the middle, and a thread with "URGENT" in the subject that turned out to be a lunch order.
You could spend an hour scrolling, skimming, and sorting — or you could ask AI to summarise it all in 30 seconds.
That's what we're building. A workflow that reads your Gmail and gives you a clear, useful summary — instantly.
Tutorial led by Chan Meng — Senior AI/ML Engineer, open-source contributor, and former ByteDance developer. Chan has built 30+ live applications and specialises in AI-powered solutions. She is also a panel speaker at this event and the developer behind this website.
What you will build
Link an AI tool to your Gmail account so it can read your emails
Pull emails — all unread, from a specific sender, or matching a search
AI reads the emails and gives you a clear, actionable summary
Two paths to choose from
This tutorial offers two ways to achieve the same result. Pick the one that suits your situation.
~20 minutes · Recommended
Install Gemini CLI, add the Google Workspace extension, and speak your prompts with Wispr Flow. A voice-first experience that builds CLI skills you will use in every tutorial after this one.
~5 minutes · Quickest
Open Gemini in your browser, turn on the Gmail extension, and start asking for summaries. No installation needed — but you will not learn the CLI skills used in other tutorials.
Which path should I choose? We recommend the Full Tutorial — it teaches you CLI skills you will use in every tutorial after this one, and prepares you for professional tools like Claude Code. The Quick Preview is available if you only have 5 minutes and want to see what AI can do before committing to the full setup.
Voice or typing — both work. Path B is designed as voice-first using Wispr Flow, but every prompt works exactly the same if you type or paste it instead. Wispr Flow is optional — it just makes the experience hands-free.
How it works
Full Tutorial: Gemini CLI + Voice
Quick Preview: Gemini App (web)
Both paths connect an AI assistant to your Gmail account. The AI reads your emails, analyses the content, and produces a structured summary — all in seconds. The Full Tutorial adds voice input and CLI skills you will reuse in every future tutorial.
What you will learn
- Connect an AI tool to a real service (Gmail) to access live data
- Write clear prompts that produce useful, structured email summaries
- Filter and search emails using natural language (by sender, date, topic)
- Customise summary formats for different needs (quick catch-up, executive briefing, action items)
- Ask follow-up questions about emails you haven't read
- Use voice input with Wispr Flow for a hands-free workflow (Path B)
- Work with AI as a daily productivity tool for inbox management
No coding required. The AI handles everything — your job is to describe what kind of summary you want. If you can explain what you need to a colleague, you can do this.
Tools
Google's free AI assistant that runs in your terminal. Supports extensions for Google Workspace. Used in the Full Tutorial.
Optional voice input tool — speak instead of type. Works in any application, including your terminal. Used in the Full Tutorial.
Google's free AI assistant in your browser. Connect it to Gmail and chat with your inbox. Used in the Quick Preview only.
Required to install Gemini CLI. Only needed for Path B.
Cost
| Tool | Cost |
|---|---|
| Gemini App | Free |
| Gemini CLI | Free (1,000 requests/day) |
| Wispr Flow | Free trial (invite link for a free month of Pro) |
| Node.js | Free |
| Gmail | Free |
| Total | $0 |
Prerequisites
Windows or macOS. No special hardware needed.
Depends on the path you choose. Take your time — there's no rush.
Any personal or work Gmail account. You will give the AI read-only access to your emails.
Ready to get started? Head to Set up your tools to get everything connected.