# Send AI-summarized unread email alerts to Slack with OpenAI: n8n workflow

> Started by an arriving email, and works across Gmail and Slack. It hands the judgement calls to OpenAI.

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/send-ai-summarized-unread-email-alerts-to-slack-with-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)

# Send AI-summarized unread email alerts to Slack with OpenAI

Started by an arriving email, and works across Gmail and Slack. It hands the judgement calls to OpenAI. 6 steps: small enough to read in one sitting and change without fear.

Small Calls a model: OpenAI

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fsend-ai-summarized-unread-email-alerts-to-slack-with-openai)

**6 steps** Small: readable in one sitting

**0** Branches: places the flow splits

**0** Loops or waits

**2** Services it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 1 Model 3 Service 2

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

- 1 **Trigger on Unread Email** Gmail trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **Get Email** Gmail *Service*
- 3 **AI Agent** Agent *Model*
- 4 **Send Notification to Slack** Slack *Service*
- 5 **Structured Output Parser** Output Parser Structured *Model*
- 6 **OpenAI Chat Model** Lm Chat Open Ai *Model*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** An arriving email
- **Steps:** 6
- **Size:** Small: readable in one sitting
- **Connects to:** Gmail, Slack
- **Model:** OpenAI

## Questions

What does it need to run?

An n8n account, plus your own Gmail 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 an arriving email.

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?

Not long. At 6 steps it can be read in one sitting and changed without fear.

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 6 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%2Fsend-ai-summarized-unread-email-alerts-to-slack-with-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)[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-powered workflow error analysis & fix suggestions** 6 steps · calls a model · Gmail](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/ai-powered-workflow-error-analysis-and-fix-suggestions)
- [**Automated agentic news event monitoring with OpenAI and Gmail** 6 steps · calls a model · Gmail](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automated-agentic-news-event-monitoring-with-openai-and-gmai)
- [**Capture and process ideas with OpenAI and Notion** 6 steps · calls a model · Notion, Slack](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/capture-and-process-ideas-with-openai-and-notion)
- [**Error workflow: AI powered (GPT 4.1): universal with OpenAI** 6 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Telegram](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/error-workflow-ai-powered-gpt-4-1-universal-with-openai)
- [**Gmail AI high priority alert & action detection with OpenAI** 6 steps · calls a model · Gmail, n8n data table](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/gmail-ai-high-priority-alert-and-action-detection-with-opena)
- [**Monitor Gmail and send AI summaries to Telegram with OpenAI** 6 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Telegram](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/monitor-gmail-and-send-ai-summaries-to-telegram-with-openai)