Glance is aura’s daily email briefing. It works only with Gmail and Outlook, and it shows a generated snapshot of what matters for the selected provider. This page explains how to unlock it, what you are looking at, and why you need to click Refresh manually when you want a new preview.

Connect Gmail or Outlook first

Daily Glance needs at least one connected email provider. If neither Gmail nor Outlook is connected, the module is locked and sends you to Connections.

Use this setup path:

1. Connect Gmail or Outlook in Connections.
2. Open Glance.
3. Review the currently loaded snapshot.
4. Click Refresh when you want a fresh run.

Switch between providers

Glance has two provider views: Gmail and Outlook.

• each provider has its own snapshot
• unavailable providers are disabled
• if only one email provider is connected, Glance uses that provider
• when you switch providers, you are viewing that provider’s snapshot only

This matters because the selected provider controls both what you see and what Refresh will regenerate.

Understand cached snapshots

When you open Glance, aura first tries to load the latest cached snapshot for the selected provider. While that happens, the page may show Loading latest cached glance.

If a cached snapshot exists, Glance shows it immediately. If no cached snapshot exists yet, the module shows an empty state and tells you to click Refresh to generate the first snapshot.

Glance also shows a visible run timestamp so you can tell how old the current snapshot is before you decide to refresh it.

Refresh the preview manually

Refresh is manual. Glance does not auto-refresh on its own.

When you click Refresh:

• aura generates a new glance run for the selected provider
• the current snapshot is replaced
• the visible action items, follow-ups, meetings, and updates are regenerated from newer inbox and calendar context

This is the key rule for Glance: if you want the preview to reflect newer email or meeting activity, you must click Refresh yourself.

Read the AI Briefing

The AI Briefing card is the top-level summary for the current snapshot. It gives you a short explanation of what matters now, plus suggested actions generated from the latest run.

Those suggested actions come from the current snapshot only. If you want them to reflect newer context, run Refresh again.

Review Action Items

Action Items surfaces inbox items that likely need your attention. This is where Glance highlights messages that look actionable instead of simply unread.

This section can include:

• priority labels such as urgent or medium
• the sender, subject, and preview
• quick actions like Reply, Compose, and Ask Aura

Use this section when you want to move from a high-level briefing into action on the most pressing email work.

Reply or compose from Glance

Glance is not only for review. It also lets you act on email directly from the current snapshot using aura.

From Action Items and Follow-ups, you can use:

• Reply to respond to the selected email thread
• Compose to start a new email
• Ask Aura to get help drafting before you send

The reply and compose actions open aura’s email tools for the currently selected provider. If you are in Gmail, the Gmail send or reply flow opens. If you are in Outlook, the Outlook send or reply flow opens.

Ask Aura is the drafting path when you want help before sending. Use it to ask for a reply, a rewrite, or a clearer message, then move into Reply or Compose once the draft looks right.

Review Follow-ups

Follow-ups surfaces conversations that appear to be waiting on you. This is broader than unread email. The section can show threads that are waiting, overdue, or already read but still unanswered.

Use this view when you want to understand reply pressure, not just inbox volume.

Review Updates

Updates shows notable items surfaced in the generated snapshot. These are not necessarily direct action requests. They are important changes, announcements, or items worth knowing about from the selected provider context.

Use this section when you want awareness before you decide whether something needs action.

Review Meetings

Meetings shows meetings found for the selected provider in the current generated snapshot. Entries can include timing, duration, attendee count, meeting platform, and notes where available.

Use this view when you want to prepare for the day or spot meetings that need context or follow-up.

Use Glance well

The default path is simple:

1. Open Glance.
2. Pick Gmail or Outlook.
3. Review the cached snapshot and its timestamp.
4. Click Refresh when you want a fresh run.
5. Use Action Items, Follow-ups, Updates, and Meetings to decide what to do next.

After that, move where the task belongs:

• go to Home when you want to continue in chat
• go to Search when you want direct lookup across connected sources

Good to know

Glance is not a live feed. It is a provider-specific generated snapshot, and Refresh is the action that creates or replaces that snapshot.

Next: Home or Search