Connect one thing: calendar or email, read-only

Build-along · ~12 min at your own keyboard

The first connection is the whole lesson. One source, calendar or email, read mode only. It can look. It cannot send, create or delete. Then ask questions that only that source can answer. If the answers are right, the connection works. If they are generic, it is not connected.

Ladder · Level 3 gateThe long version: Connecting your first source ↗

Human review · Class week 9

The Tuesday class (peer + instructor): Bring the connected source and the best answer. Two people check the approval gates you wrote with it.

The rubric they use →

The coach's check below is not this review. This lesson stays provisional until a person has looked at it with you.

Mac: On a Mac, the browser sign-in may open in a separate window or your default browser. Finish the sign-in there, then return to the tool.

Windows: On Windows, a work Microsoft account may need IT approval to connect. If the permission screen says 'needs admin approval', stop and ask your admin. Do not try another account.

Do this

0/6

Checkpoints

▸You should now see your source listed as connected, with read-only access.
▸You should now have three answers that mention real names, times or subjects from your source.
▸You should now have checked each answer against the source and chosen the best one.

The three ways this goes wrong

The answers are generic, like 'you may want to check your calendar'. — It is not connected. Go back to settings, confirm the source shows as connected, then ask again with the source named.
The permission screen offers only full access, with send or edit rights. — Do not accept. Use a different tool or source that offers read-only, or ask your admin. Nothing is urgent enough to skip this.
An answer states a meeting or sender that does not exist. — Say 'Quote the exact entry you found.' If it cannot, discard the answer. Note it as a failed check.

Dated facts in this lesson: ChatGPT connectors cover Gmail, Outlook, Calendar, Drive and more than 60 others. Write actions rolled out around June 2026, are off by default, and are admin-gated on Business. Secondary source (researched Oct 4, 2026, not yet confirmed by a person: check the source before you rely on it); Claude connectors are under Customize > Connectors. They include Google Workspace and Microsoft 365. The Microsoft 365 connector gained write actions (draft email, calendar, files). Directory connectors are on all plans. A custom remote MCP connector by URL needs a paid plan (researched Oct 4, 2026, not yet confirmed by a person: check the source before you rely on it); Gemini "Connected apps" cover Gmail, Calendar and Drive. If "Keep Activity" is off, some Workspace connectors stop working (researched Oct 4, 2026, not yet confirmed by a person: check the source before you rely on it); Microsoft 365 Copilot connects natively to Outlook, SharePoint, OneDrive and Teams. Outlook triage can delete, move and categorize mail, with confirmation. MCP connectors are managed by admins (researched Oct 4, 2026, not yet confirmed by a person: check the source before you rely on it); Personal Copilot has Actions and Journeys in Edge Copilot Mode. Gmail and Outlook connectors are not confirmed. Secondary source (researched Oct 4, 2026, not yet confirmed by a person: check the source before you rely on it); Grok Connectors launched May 6, 2026: Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Notion, GitHub and Linear. Most can read and write, including sending email and creating invites. Bring Your Own MCP is supported. Automations (daily, weekly, email triggers) need a paid tier (secondary source) (researched Oct 4, 2026, not yet confirmed by a person: check the source before you rely on it); Perplexity has Gmail, Calendar and Outlook connectors. Comet browser is free. Perplexity Computer is on Max. Scheduled Tasks run at most hourly. Secondary source (researched Oct 4, 2026, not yet confirmed by a person: check the source before you rely on it).

Share what happened

Paste the source you connected, confirm it was read-only, and paste your best answer with the question you asked. Swap names and email subjects for stable placeholders like [CLIENT A] or [SUBJECT 1] if you prefer — keep times and structure.

Strip API keys, passwords, and tokens before you paste. Swap them for [KEY].

🔒 Don't paste confidential, personal-health, or payment info.