Have you ever received a cold email that felt like it was written by a robot and deleted it on the spot? With AI-generated copy flooding inboxes, Gmail using summaries and prioritization, and stricter rules for cold outreach, email is turning into a channel where clarity and credibility decide what gets read.
Take a moment to spot what actually earns attention in 2026, instead of getting ignored.
Three Ways to Strip AI Slop From Email Copy 🧹
Published: January 16, 2026
AI-focused email copy is quietly hurting inbox performance. The piece calls out “slop” as low-quality, mass-produced content. It also points to data suggesting that copy that sounds machine-written can reduce engagement.
Upside: Start with a clear messaging brief, not a blank prompt. Define the audience, their awareness stage, and the one outcome you want. For example, use AIDA for top-of-funnel leads, then switch to problem-agitation-solution for mid-funnel leads.
Impact: Speed is easy now, but trust is not. Build a QA process that checks strategy, structure, and clarity line by line, then proofread. Keep a trained human reviewer in the loop before anything goes out.
Gmail Inbox AI Sets a New Standard for Senders 📬
Published: January 16, 2026
Google is adding new features to Gmail that can summarize messages and surface priorities fast. That shift nudges marketers to earn attention rather than force it.
Upside: Write with intent, not just for opens. Lead with a clear promise, then make the ask simple. For example, put the offer in the first line, then back it up with one proof point.
Impact: These tools help people sort promos when they want them, which makes brand memory and clear value matter more. Email is not disappearing; it is just being judged more harshly.
Cold Email Isn’t Dead, It Just Got Harder 📬
Published: January 5, 2026
I notice many teams still send cold outreach from their main domain, which is now a fast track to spam. If you want cold email to work in 2026, you need a real plan: multiple inboxes, precise targeting, and disciplined daily volume.
Upside: Start small and build good habits before you scale. Set up multiple sending domains, cap daily sends per inbox, and run a single focused campaign for a single buyer profile. Use Apollo or Instantly to pull a targeted list, send a few hundred messages, then adjust based on real replies.
Impact: The inbox is less forgiving, and careless outreach gets punished fast. The teams that win pair real relevance with infrastructure that protects the brand and keeps inbox placement healthy. Done right, email still wins because it is direct and gives fast, blunt feedback.
My Last $.02
Speed is simple now, but trust is still rare, and low-effort writing is easier than ever to spot. Winning teams start with a solid brief, lead with a clear promise and a simple ask, keep a human QA step, and protect their brand with clean sending infrastructure and disciplined volume.
Email is not dying; it is just being held to a higher standard, which is good news for anyone willing to do it right.
Until next time, happy emailing!
Adam