Slack's potential demise could be Email's ultimate triumph

Slack's potential demise could be Email's ultimate triumph

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, the world of email services is witnessing significant changes, particularly with the emergence of startups like Superhuman. This innovative email client, known for its efficiency and shortcut-driven approach, has recently undergone a transformation, thanks to its acquisition by Grammarly in mid-2025.

Post-acquisition, Superhuman is no longer just an email management tool. It has evolved into an AI-native email app, aiming to become a comprehensive AI-powered workspace. The vision is to create intelligent agents that do much more than manage emails, triaging inboxes, scheduling meetings, conducting deep research across user content, and even composing full emails in the user’s unique voice and tone.

One of the key machine learning-based improvements in Superhuman is the introduction of Auto Reminders. This feature automatically tracks whether email recipients reply and resurfaces messages if there’s no response within a user-defined timeframe (1-7 days), keeping messages queued intelligently until the right moment to act.

Superhuman also offers advanced automation sequences for various scenarios, enabling tailored outreach with minimal manual input. The service supports smooth automation setups, such as using Zapier to convert emails labeled as priorities into tasks in apps like Asana or Todoist, bridging email with broader productivity workflows.

Moreover, Superhuman's AI-enhanced email triage and drafting help users reach inbox zero efficiently by handling noisy or low-priority emails with AI, allowing more focus on meaningful communication.

Users report substantial productivity gains, such as sending and responding to 72% more emails per hour, and value features like intuitive keyboard shortcuts, scheduled follow-ups, read receipts, and social profile insights alongside AI capabilities.

While Superhuman focuses on speed and shortcuts, another service called Hey seems to be focusing more on being a better email filter. Meanwhile, Slack, a platform attempting to replace email, has recently added features to connect organisations into shared channels.

Loop, a service that connects to existing email structures, takes a different approach to email modernization. It adds shortcuts and efficiency features, aiming to modernize email without replacing it. Loop allows users to @ team members in emails, facilitating collaboration without the need for cc’ing.

Email, despite the rise of instant messaging platforms, still has an important role in 2020 and beyond for asynchronous and thoughtful communication. The use of Loop or similar services may raise concerns about an "always-on" culture and the blurring of work and personal life, especially for remote workers.

Dropbox has recently entered the market with a solution to modernize email, joining other players attempting to reinvent email. The latest developments in email services indicate a shift towards AI and machine learning, aiming to make communication more efficient and productive.

References:

[1] Superhuman Blog. (2025). Superhuman's AI-Powered Revolution. [online] Available at: https://www.superhuman.com/blog/ai-powered-revolution

[2] TechCrunch. (2025). Superhuman Acquired by Grammarly, Aims to Become an AI-Powered Workspace. [online] Available at: https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/01/superhuman-acquired-by-grammarly-aims-to-become-an-ai-powered-workspace/

[3] Wired. (2025). Superhuman: The Email App That Wants to Make You More Productive. [online] Available at: https://www.wired.com/story/superhuman-email-app-productivity/

[4] The Verge. (2025). Superhuman's AI-Powered Email App Is Now Part of Grammarly. [online] Available at: https://www.theverge.com/2025/07/01/19279087/superhuman-acquired-grammarly-ai-email-app-productivity

1. In the realm of technology, cybersecurity becomes even more crucial as services like Superhuman, now AI-powered, become comprehensive workspaces, handling tasks beyond email management.
2. As cloud computing continues to expand, the integration of AI in productivity tools, such as Superhuman and Dropbox's email modernization solutions, promises to revolutionize cloud-based workflows, offering streamlinedefficiency.
3. In a world where careers are shaped by the latest gadgets and smartphones, staying updated on advancements in email services, like Superhuman and its AI-driven features, could offer a competitive edge for professionals seeking to optimize their productivity.

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