Email introductions are a common professional practice where one person connects two others via email. Standard etiquette suggests that the introducer should BCC (blind carbon copy) themselves to stay informed about the initial exchange without being included in subsequent replies. However, many professionals forget this step, leading to missed follow-ups, lost connections, and awkward situations when replying to threads they're no longer part of. This issue is particularly frustrating for those who frequently make introductions, such as recruiters, executives, and networkers.

Automating Email Etiquette

One way to address this problem could be through a Gmail feature that automatically moves the sender to BCC when an introduction is detected. The system could identify introduction emails by analyzing common phrases like "let me introduce" or "connecting you with." Once detected, it would shift the sender's address from the "To" or "CC" field to BCC, while allowing users to review and undo this change before sending. The feature could include customizable settings for what counts as an introduction and whether to notify the sender about the automatic adjustment.

• For users: Eliminates the need to remember BCC etiquette manually
• For recipients: Maintains proper email protocol without relying on the sender's memory
• For Google: Enhances Gmail's value for professional users

Implementation Pathways

A simple starting point could be a browser extension that adds this functionality to Gmail using basic pattern matching, with manual activation through a "make this an introduction" button. For a more sophisticated solution, native integration with Gmail could employ advanced natural language processing and tie into existing features like "undo send." User trust could be built by making all automatic changes visible and reversible, while customization options would accommodate different introduction styles across industries and cultures.

This approach would fill a specific gap in email productivity tools by focusing solely on improving introduction etiquette. Unlike existing solutions that handle scheduling or templates, it would address the precise pain point of maintaining proper BCC protocol in professional communications.