The article argues that email inboxes are becoming one of the most valuable frontiers for artificial intelligence because they contain rich, real-world data about how people work, communicate, and make decisions. AI companies and enterprise software firms are racing to embed assistants into email to summarize messages, draft replies, prioritize tasks, and automate follow-ups, turning inboxes into command centers for work. The piece notes that this data is especially powerful because email reflects intent, context, and relationships in ways other productivity tools do not. At the same time, it raises concerns about privacy, surveillance, and user trust, since email is deeply personal and often sensitive. The article concludes that whoever figures out how to add clear value without overstepping boundaries could gain a major advantage in the next phase of workplace AI.
