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Calendar

Conflict detection

How alfred_ flags overlapping events and meeting requests that don't fit your schedule.

When a meeting request hits your inbox, alfred_ checks it against your calendar before drafting any reply. If there’s a conflict, alfred_ surfaces it explicitly — you decide what to do.

1
Request arrives
Incoming meeting invite or scheduling email.
2
Check calendars
All connected calendars + buffer + focus time.
3
Compare
Direct overlap, travel, quiet hours, VIP overlap.
4
Surface options
Decline + alternatives, accept + move, double-book.
Conflict detection runs on every incoming meeting request before alfred_ drafts a reply.

What alfred_ checks

  • Direct overlap — proposed time conflicts with an existing event
  • Travel time — back-to-back meetings in different physical locations
  • Buffer preferences — gaps you want between meetings (configurable)
  • Focus time — proposed time conflicts with a focus block you’ve protected
  • Quiet hours — proposed time falls outside your working hours
  • VIP overlap — when an existing VIP meeting could be moved to accommodate

What you can do when there’s a conflict

For incoming meeting requests with conflicts, alfred_ presents:

  • Decline and propose alternative — alfred_ drafts a reply with 2–3 alternative times that work for both of you
  • Accept and move the conflicting event — alfred_ moves the lower-priority event and drafts a notification
  • Accept and double-book — sometimes that’s the right call (you can step out of one)
  • Forward to delegate — if the meeting could be handled by someone else

Asking alfred_ to check before scheduling

When you ask alfred_ to schedule something:

  • “schedule lunch with Sarah next Wednesday at noon”

alfred_ runs the conflict check first. If there’s an issue, you’ll see something like:

You have a 12:00 call with Marc next Wednesday. Want me to:

  1. Schedule lunch at 1pm instead
  2. Move the call with Marc to make room
  3. Schedule anyway (you’ll have a conflict)

Multi-calendar awareness

Conflicts are detected across all connected calendars, not just your work one. A vet appointment on your personal calendar will block work scheduling.