How Sortie Works

What happens when an email matches a tag?

When Sortie's AI assigns an email to one of your custom categories, that category controls what happens next:

• Client Request The email gets the Gmail label you configured for that category, making it easy to filter and find.
• Optionally, that tag can trigger an instant Slack notification with the sender, subject, and AI-generated summary.

What happens when no category matches?

Emails that do not match your configured categories fall into the fallback tag, which is designed for newsletters, notifications, and FYI messages:

• Read Later The email is labeled with your fallback Gmail label so you can review it later if needed.
• By default, fallback emails can be archived and marked as read to keep your inbox count low and reduce noise.

Nothing is ever deleted. You can always find fallback emails using Gmail search or their configured label.

How does the AI choose a tag?

Sortie uses your selected AI model to analyze each email and choose the one category that best matches your rules. The AI considers multiple factors:

• Direct questions - Is someone asking you specifically for information?
• Action requests - Is someone waiting for you to do something?
• Urgency indicators - Are there deadlines or time-sensitive language?
• Sender relationship - Is this from a client, colleague, or automated system?

You can customize these rules by creating tags and category criteria on the Prompts page.

What happens when I first sign up?

Sortie first asks you to connect the Gmail account you want to manage. Then you review a ready-made priority rule, optionally import your existing Gmail labels, and choose what should happen to unmatched messages.

Your new connection waits while you configure those rules. Sorting begins only after you select Save and start sorting. If you leave early, use the setup card on your dashboard to resume.

Can I create my own tags?

Yes. Sortie lets you create custom AI tags that define your own routing rules. For example:

Manage your custom tags →

How do I find my labeled emails in Gmail?

Sortie applies Gmail labels based on your categories. The default setup starts with labels like these, and custom tags can use the label names you choose:

Tip: Search Gmail with label:ActionNeeded, label:Invoices, or any custom label you configure.

Does Sortie delete any of my emails?

No, never. Sortie can add labels, mark emails as read, and archive emails according to your category settings. We never delete emails or modify their content.

If you ever disconnect Sortie, the labels remain in Gmail and your email content is unchanged.

Do I have to use Slack?

No, Slack integration is optional. Without Slack, Sortie still labels your emails with your configured category tags, so you can work from Gmail labels alone.

With Slack connected, you can choose which tags trigger instant notifications, so only the categories that need fast attention interrupt you.

How often does Sortie check my email?

Sortie syncs automatically every few minutes to check for new unread emails. You can also trigger a manual sync anytime by clicking "Sync Now" on your dashboard.

Only unread emails are processed; emails you've already read are ignored to avoid duplicate work.