# Get pinged only when something in your business needs you

> It drafts the reply or reminder for you, then waits for your OK before anything gets sent.

Connect your email, calendar and payment apps to Claude Duet, tell it what counts as urgent, and it checks every few hours and messages you only when something on your list shows up.

- Page: https://thesolocreators.com/prompts/duet-pings-you-only-when-it-matters/
- Category: Put your business on autopilot
- Made for: Coaches, Consultants, Small business owners
- Works in: Claude
- Time: 10 minutes to set up, then it checks every few hours
- Effort: A few steps
- Note: Research preview by waitlist on Pro and Max plans. Not available in every region. Background checks use your plan's limits.
- Published: 2026-10-22

## Can AI watch my inbox and only alert me when it's urgent?

Yes. Claude Duet checks your connected apps every few hours and messages you only about the things on your watch list (as of October 2026). It fits owners who already run their work through Gmail, a calendar and an invoicing app, since it works from those connections. If one summary a day is enough, its morning brief may cover you. It can still misjudge what's urgent, so keep your list specific and read each draft before you approve a send.

## The prompt

Fill in the parts in [square brackets], or leave them and the AI will ask you for them.

```text
I run [YOUR BUSINESS, e.g. a one-person leadership coaching practice]. Please keep an eye on my connected apps and only message me when one of these things happens:
1. A new inquiry or a past client gets in touch and hasn't had a reply in [REPLY WINDOW, e.g. 4 hours].
2. An invoice is more than [DAYS OVERDUE, e.g. 14 days] overdue.
3. A meeting on my calendar changes, clashes with something else, or has no prep notes the day before.
4. [YOUR OWN TRIGGER, e.g. a review under 4 stars]

Don't message me about newsletters, receipts or anything that can wait for my morning brief. Stay quiet between [QUIET HOURS, e.g. 7pm and 7am].

When something does come up, tell me in two lines what happened and why it matters, then give me a draft reply or next step. Never send, pay or delete anything without my OK.
```

## Step by step

1. Join the Claude Duet waitlist at claude.com/product/claude-duet and open the app once you're in.
2. Connect the apps you live in, like Gmail, your calendar, Stripe or QuickBooks.
3. Paste the prompt with your own watch list and quiet hours.
4. Approve, edit or skip each draft Duet shows you before it sends anything.

## What you'll get

A short message only when an item on your watch list shows up, with a ready draft you can approve, edit or skip.

## Good to know

**Can AI watch my inbox and only alert me when it's urgent?** Yes. Claude Duet checks your connected apps every few hours and messages you only about the things on your watch list (as of October 2026). It fits owners who already run their work through Gmail, a calendar and an invoicing app, since it works from those connections. If one summary a day is enough, its morning brief may cover you. It can still misjudge what's urgent, so keep your list specific and read each draft before you approve a send.

**Which AI tools does this work in?** It works in Claude. On this page, Claude opens with your prompt already typed in. Research preview by waitlist on Pro and Max plans. Not available in every region. Background checks use your plan's limits.

**How long does it take?** 10 minutes to set up, then it checks every few hours. It's rated "A few steps". There are 4 steps, listed above.

**What do I need before I start?** Just your details for 5 blanks: your business, reply window, days overdue, your own trigger and quiet hours. You can skip any, and your AI will ask for them.

**What will I get back?** A short message only when an item on your watch list shows up, with a ready draft you can approve, edit or skip.

Idea spotted on the official docs, shared by @claudeai: https://x.com/claudeai/status/2112984664256241837. The prompt is The Solo Creators' own version.

## Go further

Ready-made skills in the Solo Creators AI Studio (https://thesolocreators.com/studio/) that fit this: Second Brain (Give your AI a memory it reads across every project, so it finally knows your business); Watch It For Me (Drop any video link and get the step-by-step playbook, the full timestamped transcript, and the best quotes. Without watching it).

From AI Use Cases and Prompts by The Solo Creators: https://thesolocreators.com/prompts/. Free to use; please link back to the page when you share it.