Openwork: AI Desktop Agent for File & Workflow Automation
What Is Openwork?
Openwork is a free, open‑source AI desktop agent that sits right on your Mac or Windows machine and helps you manage files, write documents, and automate browser tasks—all without sending data to a third‑party cloud. The project is hosted on GitHub, released under the MIT license, and has already gathered nearly 2,000 stars.
Short‑Form Overview
- Local‑first: Runs entirely on your device; files never leave your machine.
- API‑key friendly: Plug in OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, xAI, or run local models via Ollama.
- Privacy‑first: No auto‑submittal; you decide which folders it can see.
- Zero cost: No subscription, just your own keys or local models.
- Open source: Fork, tweak or extend the code on GitHub.
Key Features
| Feature | What It Does | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Smart File Management | Sort, rename, and move files by content, tags or rules you define | Clean up clutter and keep project directories tidy automatically |
| Document Creation | Summarize, rewrite or generate PDFs, Markdown, Word, etc. | Save hours of writing and editing time |
| Browser Automation | Run research workflows, fill forms, scrape data | Automate repetitive online tasks without manual clicks |
| Custom Skills | Define repeatable workflows, save them and run on demand | Build your own personalized “macro‑like” automations |
| Safe Deletion | Batch‑delete with warnings and a log | Prevent accidental data loss |
| Transparent Logs | View the actions it plans to run and approve them before execution | Full control over every change |
Why Privacy Matters
Openwork’s local‑first design addresses a common pain point for AI‑powered tools: data leakage. All AI calls stay local (or go to your own hosted endpoint), so nothing beyond the model’s knowledge is exposed. The UI even shows you the exact folder paths it will touch, and the app stores your API keys securely in the operating‑system keychain.
Supported AI Providers
| Provider | Notes |
|---|---|
| OpenAI | GPT‑4, GPT‑3.5, Claude, etc. |
| Anthropic | Claude models |
| PaLM | |
| xAI | Grok |
| Ollama | Run local Llama‑2, Gemma, etc. |
Quick Start Guide
- Download the DMG from the Releases page (macOS Apple Silicon) or install via Homebrew on Linux.
- Run the app and accept the onboarding screen.
- Enter your API key (or point to an Ollama instance).
- Select the folders you want the agent to access.
- Ask a question: "Summarize all PDFs in the Documents folder".
- Approve the generated changes in the UI.
Tip: Use the short‑cuts in the sidebar to quickly jump into File Management or Custom Skills.
Build & Contribute
Openwork is written in TypeScript and uses Electron + React + Vite for the front‑end. The command suite (via pnpm) includes:
- pnpm dev – hot‑reload desktop app
- pnpm build – bundle production builds
- pnpm test:e2e – Playwright end‑to‑end tests
Contributions are welcomed. Fork the repo, create a feature branch, commit your changes, and submit a pull request. The community actively reviews PRs and maintains a clear contributing guide.
Real‑World Use Cases
| Role | Scenario |
|---|---|
| Designer | Auto‑organize assets by project and resolution |
| Writer | Generate outlines or rewrite blog drafts before publishing |
| Researcher | Scrape data from multiple sites, aggregate in a tidy folder |
| Project Manager | Pull weekly status reports from docs and export to a shared drive |
Future Roadmap
- Windows 10/11 support (soon)
- Deep integration with Notion, Google Drive and Dropbox (via local APIs)
- AI‑driven code‑assistant for IDE file management
- Community skill marketplace
Final Thoughts
Openwork represents a new wave of privacy‑first AI desktops. Its powerful automation capabilities, coupled with a fully open‑source code base, make it an ally for developers, writers, and anyone who spends a lot of time juggling files and repetitive online tasks. Give it a try, fork the repo, and tailor it to your own productivity stack.
If you found this article helpful, check out our other guides on configuring local AI models and customizing Electron‑based desktop agents.