Is the OpenAI page different from the ChatGPT page?

Same underlying connection. This page is the API-oriented framing; the ChatGPT page is the friendlier one. You add a single OpenAI key either way.

Can I choose the GPT model?

Yes. Airbox uses a sensible default, and you can override the model per inbox or per email with any model your OpenAI account can access.

How much does it cost?

Airbox has a free plan to get started. You bring your own AI provider API key, so you pay the provider directly for the tokens you use — there is no AI markup from Airbox.

Is it safe to point Airbox at my real email?

Yes — that's exactly what Airbox is designed for. Airbox only acts on mail from senders you allow, and it only treats the subject and first body line (or a (* … *) block) as instructions. Everything else in a forwarded email is quarantined as untrusted content and never obeyed for your own security and privacy. Your API keys stay fully encrypted.

How to email OpenAI (GPT)

The short version

To email OpenAI's GPT models, sign up for Airbox to get a private email address, connect your OpenAI API key once, then forward or BCC any email to that address. Airbox routes the message through the official OpenAI API and emails the answer back into your inbox.

What you need

A free Airbox account
An OpenAI Platform API key with billing enabled

1. Get your Airbox address

Create a free account and open the dashboard to make an inbox. You get an unguessable address like c4f8xxxx@airbox.fyi. Save it as a contact or BCC it on outgoing mail. See the quick start for the full walkthrough.

2. Connect OpenAI

Airbox calls the official api.openai.com endpoint with your own key, so the full GPT model catalog on your account is available.

Open platform.openai.com → API keys and create a new secret key (sk-…).
In your Airbox dashboard, go to Connections → + AI & LLM provider → OpenAI and paste the key.
Set it as your inbox default and Save. Optionally pin a model like gpt-4.1 in the prompt.

Open the OpenAI key page →

Full step-by-step: OpenAI connection guide

3. Send your first email

Forward or BCC any email to your Airbox address. To ask for something specific, put a short instruction on the trusted surface — the subject, the first body line, or a (* … *) block at the top:

Subject: Fwd: Q3 planning thread

(* @openai extract every date and dollar amount *)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
...the email you forwarded...

Anything else in a forwarded email is treated as content to read, never as a command. More in the command syntax and forwarding guides.

What you can do

Summarize and triage long email threads
Extract structured data (dates, amounts, names)
Draft and rewrite replies
Classify or label incoming mail

Frequently asked questions

Is the OpenAI page different from the ChatGPT page?: Same underlying connection. This page is the API-oriented framing; the ChatGPT page is the friendlier one. You add a single OpenAI key either way.
Can I choose the GPT model?: Yes. Airbox uses a sensible default, and you can override the model per inbox or per email with any model your OpenAI account can access.
How much does it cost?: Airbox has a free plan to get started. You bring your own AI provider API key, so you pay the provider directly for the tokens you use — there is no AI markup from Airbox.
Is it safe to point Airbox at my real email?: Yes — that's exactly what Airbox is designed for. Airbox only acts on mail from senders you allow, and it only treats the subject and first body line (or a (* … *) block) as instructions. Everything else in a forwarded email is quarantined as untrusted content and never obeyed for your own security and privacy. Your API keys stay fully encrypted.

Ready to try it?

Get your private Airbox address and send your first AI-routed email in minutes. Free to start — bring your own AI.