Create an AI agent that reads a task email and writes a draft reply in 5 minutes
Ready-made prompt + ChatGPT: paste an incoming email - get a structured reply you can copy into your mail client
- 1.Open chatgpt.com and sign in to your account. If you don't have one - register for free (only an email is needed). The free plan is sufficient for this recipe.
Do not paste emails into ChatGPT that contain passwords, NDA data, or client personal data unless necessary - remove sensitive parts first.
ChatGPT ↗About this tool - 2.Click «New chat» in the top left corner. Make sure the GPT-4o model is selected - it is available on the free plan with a message limit.
If you see «You've reached your GPT-4o limit» - switch to GPT-4o mini, the prompt will work the same way.
ChatGPT ↗About this tool - 3.Copy and paste the following prompt into the chat in full. Don't send it yet - you'll add the email itself in the next step.
Replace the values in square brackets to fit your needs: reply language, tone, length limit.
ChatGPT ↗About this toolPromptYou are my email response assistant. I will paste an incoming work email from a colleague or client. Your job: 1. Read the email and identify: the core request, any deadline, and what the sender expects from me. 2. Decide what action I need to take. 3. Draft a professional reply in [English] that: - Acknowledges the request clearly - Confirms what I will do and by when (or asks for missing information) - Is under [150] words - Uses a [friendly but professional] tone Output format: - **Summary:** [1 sentence - the essence of the task] - **Deadline:** [if stated, otherwise «not specified»] - **What's needed from me:** [1 - 2 bullet points] - **Draft reply:** [ready-to-send email text in English, without subject line] Incoming email below: --- [PASTE_EMAIL_HERE]
What this prompt doesThis prompt gives ChatGPT the role of «email reply assistant». Replace [English] with your desired reply language, [150] with your preferred word limit, [friendly but professional] with the tone you want (e.g., «formal» or «casual»). In place of [PASTE_EMAIL_HERE], paste the incoming email text - that's in the next step. - 4.Open the task email in your mail client (Gmail, Outlook, etc.). Select the email text and copy it (Ctrl+C / Cmd+C). Return to ChatGPT, replace [PASTE_EMAIL_HERE] with the copied email text, and click the send button (arrow).
Copy only the email body. You can include the sender's name in the first line - this helps the AI determine the tone more accurately.
ChatGPT ↗About this tool - 5.ChatGPT will return a structured response: a brief task summary, deadline, what needs to be done, and a ready draft email. Copy the text from the «Draft reply» section, paste it into a new email in your mail client, review it, and send.
If the draft doesn't suit you - write to ChatGPT: «Make the reply shorter / more formal / add a line about scheduling a call». The AI will revise it in seconds.
ChatGPT ↗About this tool - 6.To avoid pasting the prompt every time: click «Explore GPTs» -> «Create» (available on the free plan). Paste the prompt from step 3 into the Instructions field, name the GPT (e.g., «Email Agent»), and save it. Now the agent is available with one click from the left menu.
Creating your own GPT is available even on the free plan. If the option isn't available - just save the prompt in your notes and paste it manually.
ChatGPT Custom GPTs ↗
- freeClaude (free tier)The free Claude plan gives a limited number of messages per day - enough for 10-20 medium-sized tasks.
- subscriptionClaude ProThe paid plan at $20/month increases the message limit and gives access to a more powerful model - needed for intensive daily use.
Why today
AI services change fast - interfaces and free limits may differ from what's described.