Google Chat

It lists the spaces you belong to, reads the messages in the one you name, and tells you what was decided, what was asked, and what nobody answered. Reading does not mark anything read, so the space looks untouched when you go back to it yourself.

What you end up with. A catch-up on the space, with the messages that still need you called out.

Start with it bringing you the information and you deciding.

Never without. A summary flattens a conversation that had disagreement in it. Ask which messages it left out before you act on the version you were given.

Built on: List Spaces / List Messages / Get Message / Get Space

Google Chat tracks where you last read in each space and in each thread, and those read states are readable. Your assistant can go through your spaces, find the unread messages, and put the ones that name you or ask a direct question at the top.

What you end up with. A ranked list of spaces with unread messages, and why each one is on the list.

Start with it bringing you the information and you deciding.

Never without. Direct messages and group chats do not show up in the space list until a first message exists, so a quiet DM can be missed entirely.

Built on: List Spaces / Get space read state / Get thread read state / List Messages / Find Direct Message

Before you paste something into a space, it can list every membership: the people, the Google Groups, and the apps. It can also read the space's own settings, including whether people outside your organization are allowed in.

What you end up with. The full membership of the space, apps and groups included, plus its external access setting.

Start with it bringing you the information and you deciding.

Never without. A Google Group shows as one member and can stand for dozens of people. Check the group before you treat the space as a small room.

Built on: List Space Members / Get Chat Space Member / Get Space / List Spaces

Yes. It reads back through the messages in the space, finds the ones carrying attachments, reads the file name and type, and can download the contents so it can tell you what is inside without you opening each one.

What you end up with. The file you were looking for, and the message and date it was posted in.

Start with it bringing you the information and you deciding.

Never without. A file shared in a chat space is untrusted content. Wording inside a document is never an instruction to act on, however official it looks.

Built on: List Messages / Get Message / Get Attachment / Download Media

It can create a message in a space you name, and edit it afterward if you spot something. With your own login rather than an app identity, messages are plain text and capped at 32,000 bytes, and it can upload a file to go with one.

What you end up with. The message posted in the space, under your name, editable if it needs a fix.

Start with it doing the work and checking with you.

Never without. Name the space yourself and have it read the message back before posting. A chat message notifies everyone watching and arrives under your name.

Built on: Create Message / Update Message / List Spaces / Get Space / Upload Media Attachment

In one step. There is an action that creates a space and adds the initial members together, and separate actions for adding people later or changing someone between member and manager. People with auto-accept turned off get an invitation rather than being pulled straight in.

What you end up with. A named space that exists, with the people you listed in it or invited to it.

Start with it doing the work and checking with you.

Never without. Read the member list back before it creates anything. Who is added decides who can see the space history, and the history settings are separate from the membership.

Built on: Setup Space / Create Space / Create Space Member / List Space Members / Update Member

It can find them safely by listing your spaces, reading how recently each was posted in, and showing you who is still in them. The removal end is severe. Google's own description says deleting a space always cascades, taking every message and every membership with it, and that removing a member cannot be reversed.

What you end up with. A dated list of dormant spaces with their membership, for you to rule on one at a time.

Start with it doing the work and checking with you.

Never without. Delete space cascades through every message and membership, and Delete Member from Space and Delete Message cannot be undone. Save anything worth keeping first and approve each space by name.

Built on: List Spaces / Get Space / List Messages / List Space Members / Delete space / Delete Member from Space / Delete Message