Shortwave
Shortwave is an AI-first email client that uses LLMs to summarize threads, generate replies, and group related conversations automatically. It is aimed at startups and tech teams that want a faster, more intelligent inbox experience.[5][4]
Shortwave is an AI-powered email client designed to transform inbox management through intelligent automation and organizational workflows[1][2]. Built as a spiritual successor to Google Inbox, it combines advanced AI capabilities with a structured methodology that encourages users to process their entire inbox in a single pass, triaging messages into actionable items, quick tasks, and non-actionable content for immediate archival[1][3]. The platform's standout features include AI-generated email summaries that distill long threads into key points, smart bundling that automatically groups related emails like newsletters and notifications into single line items, AI-assisted draft composition that learns from a user's unique writing style, and intelligent AI filters that can organize incoming messages based on content descriptions rather than static rules[1][2][4]. Shortwave's AI assistant functions as a personal executive assistant with full context of email history and calendar, enabling users to search for information conversationally, analyze multiple emails simultaneously, and auto-generate contextually appropriate responses[2][3]. The tool is particularly suited for startups, tech teams, and professionals who prioritize productivity and inbox organization, with users reporting they can achieve inbox zero approximately 45% faster than with traditional email clients[5]. What distinguishes Shortwave is its holistic approach combining superior AI writing quality powered by advanced language models, a proven organizational methodology that reduces mental overhead, and privacy-conscious design that explicitly avoids using emails to train AI models[3][5].
Sources
- [1] https://skywork.ai/skypage/en/Shortwave-Review-(2025)-The-AI-Email-Assistant-I've-Been-Waiting-For/1972874164437708800
- [2] https://www.shortwave.com/docs/guides/ai-assistant/
- [3] https://clean.email/blog/email-clients/shortwave-review
- [4] https://zapier.com/blog/shortwave-vs-superhuman/
- [5] https://www.baytechconsulting.com/blog/shortwave-vs-superhuman-the-2025-executives-guide-to-ai-email-clients
The Privacy Policy states Shortwave uses data to 'develop new products and services' and 'maintain and improve the Servi
The Privacy Policy states Shortwave uses data to 'develop new products and services' and 'maintain and improve the Servi
Moderate risk. Suitable for internal data but avoid confidential information.
The Privacy Policy states Shortwave uses data to 'develop new products and services' and 'maintain and improve the Service,' which is vague language suggesting potential model training. However, there is no explicit statement that user content is used to train AI models, nor is there a clear opt-out mechanism. The policy does not distinguish between free and paid tiers regarding training practices.
“[Privacy] 'To develop new products and services; To maintain and improve the Service' — vague language without explicit AI training disclosure or opt-out.”
The ToS grants Shortwave 'a license to perform the actions necessary to deliver User Content to the intended recipients,' which is narrowly scoped to service delivery. However, the language is somewhat ambiguous about whether this license extends beyond delivery, and there is no explicit statement that the license terminates upon account deletion or that sublicensing is prohibited.
“[ToS] 'By transmitting any User Content through the Service, you hereby grant and will grant Shortwave and its affiliated companies a license to perform the actions necessary to deliver User Content to the intended recipients.'”
The Privacy Policy states Shortwave shares data with 'vendors and service providers' and takes 'commercially reasonable steps' to ensure they adhere to security standards, but does not publish a sub-processor list or provide detailed DPA requirements. Google Data has specific protections (no ads, no third-party transfer except for service improvement), but general Personal Data sharing is less clearly restricted.
“[Privacy] 'We may share Personal Data with vendors and service providers... We take commercially reasonable steps to ensure our service providers adhere to the security standards we apply to your Personal Data.'”
The Privacy Policy states data is kept 'for as long as reasonably necessary' and 'as required by law,' which is vague and does not specify concrete retention periods. The ToS mentions Shortwave 'may establish general practices and limits concerning... the maximum period of time that data or other content will be retained' but does not state what those limits are. No automatic deletion upon account termination is explicitly guaranteed.
“[Privacy] 'We keep Personal Data for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, while we have a business need to do so, or as required by law.'”
The ToS explicitly states that users 'own all right, title and interest in and to such User Content' and the license granted to Shortwave is limited to 'actions necessary to deliver User Content to the intended recipients.' This clearly reserves IP ownership to the user/company with no claims by Shortwave to outputs.
“[ToS] 'You represent and warrant that you own all right, title and interest in and to such User Content... you hereby grant and will grant Shortwave and its affiliated companies a license to perform the actions necessary to deliver User Content to the intended recipients.'”
The Privacy Policy mentions that 'Our systems and policies have been thoroughly assessed by a Google-designated third-party security auditor' and references GDPR compliance in the context of marketing consent, but does not explicitly state SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, HIPAA, or other formal certifications. No dedicated security or trust page is referenced.
“[Privacy] 'Our systems and policies have been thoroughly assessed by a Google-designated third-party security auditor. This security audit verifies that Shortwave is capable of handling data securely and deleting user data upon user request.'”
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