Guide
How to set up an AI email assistant for Gmail on your Mac
An Inbox Dot reads your Gmail in the background, tells you what actually needs you and asks before it does anything. Here is how to set one up.
What an Inbox Dot does
An Inbox Dot is a single-purpose assistant for your email. It watches Gmail, notices new messages as they arrive and tells you which ones need you. When something is urgent, it replies [URGENT]. When you should know but need not act, it sends an [UPDATE]. When nothing needs you, it stays quiet.
It runs in the background while OpenDot is open, and it only has the access you give it.
Setup
Create the Dot from a sentence
In OpenDot, create a new Dot and describe its job. For example: "Watch my inbox and tell me what actually needs me." OpenDot writes its name, look and personality.
Connect Google
Open Connections and choose Google & Microsoft. OpenDot uses your own OAuth client, so your mail never passes through anyone else's app. In Google Cloud Console, create a project, enable the Gmail, Calendar and Drive APIs, set up the OAuth consent screen as External and add yourself as a test user, then create an OAuth client ID of type Desktop app. Paste the client ID and secret into OpenDot and sign in.
Give the Dot Gmail, and nothing else
Open the Dot's info panel, then Tools. Switch on Google Workspace for this Dot. Leave connections it does not need switched off.
Set sending to Ask
Each tool can be Allow, Ask or Block. Set anything that sends or deletes to Ask, and the Dot will show an approval card with Allow once, Always allow and Deny before it acts.
Let the watcher run
OpenDot checks Gmail every 30 seconds. New mail reaches your Inbox Dot, and it decides whether to flag it, summarise it or stay quiet.
What you will see
Your Inbox Dot appears in the sidebar with its own chat. Urgent mail shows up as soon as it is noticed, and you can ask the Dot questions in its chat, for example which invoices are overdue.
For broader questions, ask SuperDot. "What do I need to prepare for tomorrow?" reaches your Inbox and Calendar Dots together and returns one answer with [Inbox] and [Calendar] citations.
Keeping your email private
Email contains personal details, so OpenDot masks email addresses, phone numbers, card numbers and other sensitive values before a message reaches a cloud model. If you would rather nothing left your Mac, run the Dot on a local model through Ollama or LM Studio. Gmail itself still needs a connection, but your Dot's thinking stays home.
Limits to know about
- Dots run while OpenDot is open. They cannot run while your Mac is asleep, and they catch up when it wakes.
- Gmail is checked every 30 seconds, not pushed instantly.
- Setting up your own Google OAuth client takes a few minutes, once.
Frequently asked questions
Will the Inbox Dot send emails on its own?
Only if you allow it. Tools that send, delete or pay ask for your approval first, and you can set each tool to Allow, Ask or Block.
How fast does it notice new email?
OpenDot checks Gmail every 30 seconds while the app is open.
Does my email go to a cloud model?
Only if you pick a cloud model. Personal details are masked first. Choose a local model through Ollama to keep the Dot's thinking on your Mac.
Does it work with Outlook?
Yes. OpenDot also connects to Microsoft 365, including Outlook mail and calendar, with your own app registration.
