# An agent inbox for Claude Code, Codex and Grok

An agent inbox collects the questions your AI agents ask into 1 list, so you answer them in 1 place instead of watching every terminal. brainplane's Inbox shows 1 card per topic, answers repeat questions with your saved decisions, and sends you only what still needs you.

Canonical: https://brainplane.app/guides/agent-inbox/

## The problem it solves

With 2 or 3 agents running, questions arrive in several terminals at once. Some are new. Many repeat a choice you already made in another session. You end up checking each window to find the one that waits.

## What an agent inbox does

An agent inbox gathers those questions in 1 place, with enough context to answer without opening the terminal. In brainplane:

- Each question arrives as 1 card, with why it reached you.
- Cards are grouped by topic, so 1 piece of work is 1 decision point.
- When you turn on batching, routine questions from 1 run arrive as 1 card per topic, with defaults you accept in 1 press.
- Finished handoffs land as cards too, with the verdict and the checks.

## Fewer questions reach you

Most repeat questions never need you. A standing answer is a decision you already made, saved with its source. When an agent asks the exact same question and it is not sensitive, brainplane replies with your saved answer and logs a receipt. Sensitive questions, close matches and similar wording come to you as a proposal first.

`bp stats` reads your local log and shows how many questions were asked per day and the share answered without you.

## Answer from the Inbox, safely

1. **Read the card.** It names the agent, the topic and why it needs you.
2. **Press 1 key.** Pick an option, or type a free answer.
3. **Use the hold.** Every answer waits 2 seconds, or 5 seconds when the risk is high. Escape cancels it.
4. **Check the receipt.** What changed, who asked and when.

brainplane can type your answer into a live Claude Code, Codex or Grok session in iTerm2, tmux or herdr, and bring a Terminal tab to the front. Before it types, it checks that the session is still the one you picked, that it is not at a shell prompt and that the same question is still on screen.

## What always stays a card

Sending, paying, deleting, deploying, creating accounts and buying paid plans always stop at a card for you. No setting moves them to automatic. The agent prepares the draft or the form; you press the final button.

## Questions

### Is the Inbox only for code?

No. Topics hold contracts, email drafts, payment recaps, hiring, admin and browser work as well as repos.

### Can I answer from my phone?

Yes. Pair app.brainplane.app with your Mac and answer cards with a 1 second hold and 5 seconds to cancel, end-to-end encrypted.

### Can agents answer their own cards?

No. Agents can open cards. Only you can answer them.