Astro Technology Inc. exited stealth mode in March with an email client designed to bring the chatbot-powered automation features available on services such as Slack to the inbox. Today, the startup has come full circle and integrated the virtual assistant powering its application into the team messaging tool.

The connector lets users easily switch between the applications as needed. The first set of features is accessible through Astro’s client. An upgraded search bar now provides the ability to centrally search for phrases across emails and Slack messages, while a new sharing capability lets users post messages directly to chat. An email may be sent either to a channel or a specific contact.

Over in Slack, users can now configure Astrobot, the startup’s bot, to notify them about important messages. The virtual assistant provides a choice between manually determining what contacts should trigger an alert or having a built-in analytics engine assess past inbox activity and filter messages based on perceived relevance.

When a new email shows up in the chat window, users can employ Astro’s natural-language controls to send a reply directly from Slack or set a reminder if they wish to do so later. They can also instruct the bot to organize their inbox while they’re at it. Astrobot can unsubscribe from mailing lists, archive old emails and perform several other similar actions.

Astro is rolling out the Slack integration alongside an Alexa Skill that allows devices equipped with Amazon.com Inc.’s voice assistance to read new emails out loud. In the blog post announcing the connectors, the startup indicated that support for other platforms will be added “soon” along with more automation features.

Astro is one of several venture-backed firms that are using artificial intelligence to enhance the traditional inbox. Another player in this space is the Paris-based Julie Desk, which last week raised $2.8 million for a virtual assistant that can schedule meetings inside email threads.

Image: Astro