Read AI launches a email based 'digital twin' to help you with schedules and answers | TechCrunch
Summary
Read AI has launched Ada, an AI-powered email assistant designed to manage schedules and answer queries using company knowledge bases, enhancing productivity.
Why It Matters
As remote work and digital communication become increasingly prevalent, tools like Ada can significantly streamline workflows and improve efficiency. By automating scheduling and information retrieval, businesses can save time and reduce the cognitive load on employees, allowing them to focus on more strategic tasks.
Key Takeaways
- Ada automates scheduling and responds to inquiries using company knowledge bases.
- The assistant operates via email but will expand to platforms like Slack and Teams.
- Read AI aims to grow its user base significantly, currently boasting over 5 million active users.
Meeting notetaker Read AI on Thursday launched an AI-powered email-based assistant called Ada, saying it helps users manage their schedules, answer questions based on a company’s knowledge base, and reply to out-of-office emails. The company is calling Ada a “digital twin” that handles tasks for you around the clock. Read AI said that the assistant will be available to all users, and they can start configuring it by sending an email to “ada@read.ai” and writing “Get me started.” When you ask Ada to find a time to meet with someone, it replies to the other person in the thread with your availability. If the other person replies that they are unavailable at those times and would like a different time slot, Ada responds with new options. While Ada has access to your calendar through Read AI, it does not reveal the nature of those meetings with other people. Ada can also answer questions using a company’s knowledge base, topics discussed in your prior meetings, and public internet searches. For instance, you can ask, “Ada , can you provide an update on how we are tracking for Q1 goals?” to get information. If someone else asks a question in a thread, Ada will prepare a response for you and help you refine it before it is sent to the other person. The startup said that Ada doesn’t reveal any sensitive information without your permission. Read AI’s VP of Product, Justin Farris, said that the new feature doesn’t rely on MCPs (Model Context Protocols, a technical standard for conn...
