Opening Your Briefing
When you sign in to Outband, you land on the Dashboard — your Daily Briefing view. At the top, you will see a summary header showing:- Total messages processed since your last visit
- Channels contributing data (Gmail, Outlook, Slack, etc.)
- Auto-handled count — messages Outband has already categorized or acted on
Briefing Sections
Your briefing is organized into clear sections, displayed in order of urgency:Urgent / Needs Response
These are messages that require your personal attention today. Each item shows:- Sender name and their channel (email, Slack, etc.)
- Subject or topic summary
- Why it is urgent — Outband explains its reasoning
- Contact confidence — how well Outband knows this sender’s patterns
- Suggested action — what Outband recommends you do
For Your Information
Updates you should be aware of but likely do not need to respond to. These include:- Status updates from team members
- Newsletter-type content from key contacts
- Calendar reminders and meeting prep context
Auto-Handled
A summary of what Outband processed automatically. In Observer mode, this section shows what would be auto-handled if you upgraded your trust level. In higher trust modes, it shows actions already taken.Working with Briefing Items
Viewing details
Select any briefing item to expand it. You will see:- The full message content
- Related thread context (previous messages in the conversation)
- Contact Model insights for the sender
- If available, a Perception Preview showing how your reply might be received
Taking action
For each briefing item, you can:| Action | What it does |
|---|---|
| Reply | Opens the compose view with an AI-drafted response (if in Drafter mode or above) |
| Archive | Marks the item as handled |
| Snooze | Hides the item and brings it back at a time you choose |
| Delegate | Forwards to a team member (Team tier) |
| Override | Changes the AI’s categorization or recommended action |
Resolving items
Once you take action on a briefing item, it moves out of the active briefing. Your briefing shrinks as you work through it.Filtering Your Briefing
Use the filter bar at the top of the briefing to narrow what you see:- By channel — Show only Gmail, Outlook, Slack, WhatsApp, or Calendar items
- By category — Show only urgent, needs response, FYI, or auto-handled
- By contact — Show items from a specific person
- By time — Today, last 24 hours, last 7 days
Real-Time Updates
Your briefing updates in real time. If a new urgent email arrives while you are reviewing your briefing, it will appear at the top of the Urgent section with a subtle animation. You do not need to refresh the page.Briefing Best Practices
Review your briefing at a consistent time each day
Review your briefing at a consistent time each day
Most users find that a 15-minute morning review replaces 2+ hours of inbox processing. Pick a time and make it a habit.
Use the auto-handled section as a training tool
Use the auto-handled section as a training tool
When Outband gets something wrong, correcting it makes the system smarter. Early corrections have the biggest impact.
Mark VIP contacts to prevent auto-handling
Mark VIP contacts to prevent auto-handling
Messages from VIP contacts always appear in your briefing for personal review, regardless of your trust level.
Try snoozing non-urgent items
Try snoozing non-urgent items
If something is important but not time-sensitive, snooze it to a specific time rather than leaving it in your briefing.