A chat-based persistent messaging platform that can seamlessly convert messages from different modalities (e.g., email clients and text message clients) into persistent messages and vice versa is described herein. The platform can include a parsing processor to convert messages into standard format data. A message classifier can process the standard format data into different subcomponents. These subcomponents can be translated into persistent messaging content via one or more content processing engines. The persistent messaging content can be converted into a persistent message via the parsing processor. The message classifier can also add messages into a persistent thread so that message history between two or more users can be maintained in perpetuity.