# Gmail Classify

> AI-powered email classification using intelligent content analysis. Categorizes emails into Newsletter, Shopping, Work, Personal, Notifications, Receipts, and Promotions. Use for smart inbox organization beyond simple pattern matching. Use when this capability is needed.

- Skill: `tomevault-io/gmail-classify` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/gmail-classify`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/gmail-classify/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Productivity
- Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/gmail-classify

---


# Gmail AI Classifier

Intelligent email classification using AI reasoning for smart inbox organization.

## Overview

Unlike pattern-based filtering, AI classification analyzes email content, sender context, and user behavior to make intelligent categorization decisions.

## Usage

**Syntax**: `/gmail-classify [days]`

**Examples**:
```
/gmail-classify           # Classify last 7 days
/gmail-classify 30        # Classify last 30 days
/gmail-classify --dry-run # Preview without applying
```

## Classification Categories

| Category | Indicators | Label |
|----------|------------|-------|
| Newsletter | Substack, Mailchimp, "unsubscribe" link | Newsletters |
| Shopping | Order confirmation, shipping, tracking | Shopping |
| Work | Company domain, professional tone | Work |
| Personal | Personal contacts, casual tone | Personal |
| Notifications | GitHub, Slack, calendar alerts | Notifications |
| Receipts | Invoice, payment, receipt keywords | Finance/Receipts |
| Promotions | Discount, sale, marketing language | Promotions |

## Classification Workflow

### Step 1: Fetch Emails

```bash
gog gmail search 'newer_than:${DAYS}d -label:classified' --json
```

Exclude already-classified emails to avoid re-processing.

### Step 2: Analyze Each Email

For each email, analyze:

1. **Sender Analysis**
   - Domain reputation (newsletter service? company?)
   - Sender name format (person vs system)
   - Reply-to address

2. **Subject Analysis**
   - Keywords (order, invoice, newsletter, etc.)
   - Format (numbered list? FW:? RE:?)
   - Tone (formal, casual, marketing)

3. **Content Indicators**
   - Unsubscribe link presence
   - Tracking numbers
   - Financial amounts
   - Personal greetings

### Step 3: Classify with Confidence

Assign category with confidence level:

| Confidence | Threshold | Action |
|------------|-----------|--------|
| High (90%+) | Strong signals | Auto-apply label |
| Medium (70-89%) | Mixed signals | Apply with note |
| Low (<70%) | Unclear | Skip, flag for review |

### Step 4: Apply Labels

For high-confidence classifications:

```bash
# Ensure label exists
gog gmail labels list --json
gog gmail labels create "CategoryName"

# Apply label
gog gmail modify <message-id> --add-label <label-id>
```

### Step 5: Report Results

```
## Classification Report

**Period**: Last 7 days
**Emails Analyzed**: 142
**Classifications Made**: 128
**Skipped (low confidence)**: 14

### Summary by Category

| Category | Count | % of Total |
|----------|-------|------------|
| Newsletters | 45 | 35% |
| Notifications | 32 | 25% |
| Shopping | 18 | 14% |
| Work | 15 | 12% |
| Personal | 12 | 9% |
| Receipts | 6 | 5% |

### High-Confidence Classifications (Auto-labeled)
- 98 emails across all categories

### Low-Confidence (Manual Review Needed)
1. "Meeting notes from John" - Work or Personal?
2. "Your weekly summary" - Newsletter or Notification?
...

### Suggested Filters

Based on this analysis, create permanent filters:
1. `/gmail-filter create @substack.com Newsletters --archive`
2. `/gmail-filter create @github.com Notifications`
```

## Classification Signals

### Newsletter Signals
- Sender: `newsletter@`, `digest@`, `weekly@`
- Domains: substack.com, mailchimp.com, beehiiv.com
- Content: "unsubscribe", "view in browser"
- Subject: "Weekly", "Digest", "Newsletter"

### Shopping Signals
- Subject: "order", "shipped", "delivered", "tracking"
- Sender: orders@, shipping@, noreply@
- Content: Order numbers, tracking links

### Work Signals
- Sender: Company domain match
- Content: Project names, professional terminology
- CC: Multiple company addresses

### Personal Signals
- Sender: In contacts, personal domain
- Content: Casual language, personal topics
- No marketing footers

### Notification Signals
- Sender: notifications@, alerts@, noreply@
- Subject: [GitHub], [Slack], calendar patterns
- Content: Action buttons, status updates

### Receipt Signals
- Subject: "receipt", "invoice", "payment"
- Content: Dollar amounts, transaction IDs
- Sender: billing@, receipts@

## Dry Run Mode

Preview classifications without applying:

```
/gmail-classify --dry-run
```

Shows what would be classified without making changes.

## Error Handling

- **No emails found**: Suggest widening date range
- **Label creation fails**: Check permissions
- **API rate limit**: Pause and resume
- **Classification uncertain**: Flag for user review

## See Also

- `references/categories.md` - Detailed category definitions
- `/gmail-analyze` - Pattern analysis (faster, simpler)
- `/gmail-filter` - Create permanent rules from classifications

---
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<!-- tomevault:4.0:skill_md:2026-04-15 -->