What can an AI agent do with
Write drafts and send email?
The agent can create, edit and send drafts, and send new email as you. It can also see your drafts. It cannot read the rest of your inbox.
How to spot it
On a Google Workspace connection or settings screen, this is https://www.googleapis.com/auth/gmail.compose.
With it, an agent can
- Create and edit drafts
- Send drafts and new email from your address
- Read your existing drafts
- Permanently delete drafts
It cannot, on its own
- Read the email in your inbox
- Trash or delete email you received
- Change your settings or filters
What a bad day looks like
Even if you expect it to only save drafts, this permission lets it press send, so a tricked agent could email anyone in your name.
Set it up safer
- Ask the seller for a drafts-only mode so you press send yourself. The permission still allows sending, so confirm that setting exists.
- If it sends but never drafts, https://www.googleapis.com/auth/gmail.send is narrower.
Narrower permissions on Google Workspace:
- Send email as you
https://www.googleapis.com/auth/gmail.send
Ask the company selling the agent
- Does it ever send without me pressing send?
- Can I turn sending off and keep drafts only?
- Can I see a list of everything it sent?
Source
Checked against Google Workspace documentation on 2026-09-28. All Google Workspace permissions →
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This page explains what a permission allows. It does not describe, test or rate any product. Permission details are summarized in our own words from the provider's documentation, linked on the page; providers change their documentation, so check the source before you rely on a detail.