# Automated email triage with Gmail and OpenAI: n8n workflow

> Started by a clock, and works across Gmail, Google Sheets and Slack. It hands the judgement calls to OpenAI.

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automated-email-triage-with-gmail-and-openai (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

[Automation library](https://millionrounds.com/workflows) · [Alerts and monitoring](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?category=Alerts+and+monitoring#library)

# Automated email triage with Gmail and OpenAI

Started by a clock, and works across Gmail, Google Sheets and Slack. It hands the judgement calls to OpenAI. 16 steps, 1 branch, 1 loop or waits: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Medium Calls a model: OpenAI

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fautomated-email-triage-with-gmail-and-openai)

**16 steps** Medium: a working afternoon

**1** Branch: places the flow splits

**1** Loop or waits

**3** Services it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 1 Model 1 Logic 5 Service 9

The steps in the order they run, from what starts it.

- 1 **Schedule Trigger1** Schedule trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **Get many labels** Gmail *Service*
- 3 **Get many messages** Gmail *Service*
- 4 **Message a model1** Open Ai *Model*
- 5 **Calculate Intent** Code *Logic*
- 6 **If1** If *Logic*
- 7 **Send a message2** Slack *Service*
- 8 **Add label to message2** Gmail *Service*
- 9 **Add label to message3** Gmail *Service*
- 10 **Append row in sheet2** Google Sheets *Service*
- 11 **Append row in sheet1** Google Sheets *Service*
- 12 **Wait** Wait *Logic*
- 13 **Get row(s) from sheet2** Google Sheets *Service*
- 14 **Filter timestamp** Code *Logic*
- 15 **Daily Digest Preparation** Code *Logic*
- 16 **Send a message3** Slack *Service*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** A clock
- **Steps:** 16, with 1 branch, 1 loop or waits
- **Size:** Medium: a working afternoon
- **Connects to:** Gmail, Google Sheets, Slack
- **Model:** OpenAI

## Questions

What does it need to run?

An n8n account, plus your own Gmail, Google Sheets and Slack accounts, and a key for OpenAI. You connect your own accounts after importing it; none are included.

What starts it?

It starts on a clock.

Does it use AI?

Yes. It calls OpenAI. Model calls are billed by the provider, not by n8n.

How long does it take to set up?

Plan an afternoon. 16 steps is enough that you should read each one before running it.

How do I import it?

Copy the workflow, open a new workflow in n8n and paste. The steps appear on the canvas, ready for your own accounts.

**Before you run it**

Nothing here has been tested by us. It is somebody's working automation, read and described from its own steps. Treat the connections it wants as a list of accounts it will touch, and read the 16 steps before you point it at anything that matters.

## Run it in n8n

- **Create your n8n account** Free to start. n8n is where the workflow runs. [Create an n8n account ↗](https://millionrounds.com/n8n)
- **Download the workflow** Free with a Millionrounds account. [Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fautomated-email-triage-with-gmail-and-openai)
- **Paste it into n8n** Open a new workflow in n8n and paste. Then connect your own accounts.

Stored with the author's traces removed: canvas notes, instance identifiers, saved credential names and any live document they had left behind.

## Connects to

Each opens the other workflows that use it.

[Gmail](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Gmail#library)[Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Google+Sheets#library)[Slack](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Slack#library)

## Workflows like it

Also alerts and monitoring, with the same services where possible, closest in size first.

- [**AI Weather Monitoring with OpenWeatherMap and Gemini** 16 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets, Slack](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/ai-weather-monitoring-with-openweathermap-and-gemini)
- [**Analyze GitLab CI job failures with OpenAI** 16 steps · calls a model · Slack](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/analyze-gitlab-ci-job-failures-with-openai)
- [**Automate RSS content with OpenAI and Google Sheets** 16 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets, RSS](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automate-rss-content-with-openai-and-google-sheets)
- [**Automate financial transaction tracking with Gmail and OpenAI** 16 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Notion](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automate-financial-transaction-tracking-with-gmail-and-opena)
- [**Automate website monitoring with OpenAI and MCP** 16 steps · calls a model · Email, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automate-website-monitoring-with-openai-and-mcp)
- [**Automated SEO ranking monitor with Decodo** 16 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automated-seo-ranking-monitor-with-decodo)