AI Workers: Delegating Tasks to Your Computer

Most AI tools work in the cloud. They reach whatever an interface provides: a CRM, a mailbox, cloud storage. Yet a large share of work in mid-sized companies happens elsewhere – on an office computer running specialist software without an API, on a network drive, in Excel files stored locally. This is exactly where an AI worker comes in. This article explains what an AI worker is, what it is suited for, how you stay in control and where the limits lie.

What is an AI worker?

An AI worker is a computer on which an AI agent carries out tasks independently. You describe the goal, for example "Create an Excel overview from the CSV exports in the month-end folder". The language model plans the steps, and they are executed locally on the selected computer: searching folders, reading and merging files, creating a new file.

The difference from a classic chat is significant. A chat delivers text that you then implement yourself. A worker implements. It works with the files, programs and network drives that the operating system makes available on that computer – including those without a cloud interface. The difference from classic robotic process automation (RPA) is that you do not program a click sequence. You phrase a task in natural language, and the agent derives the steps.

How delegation works

With the AIPE Worker, three steps are needed:

1. Install: You install AIPE Desktop on the Mac or Windows PC that is to do the work and sign in with your AIPE account.
2. Enable: Directly on that computer, you activate the option for remote tasks. Without this local consent, the computer does not accept tasks from other devices.
3. Assign: In any AIPE chat – in the browser, on another computer or on your smartphone – you select the worker with @ and describe the task.

Every multi-step task starts with a visible plan. You see which step is running and what has been completed. If the worker is busy, AIPE queues new tasks. Subtasks can run in parallel, and each can be viewed, paused, resumed or stopped – on mobile too.

What a worker can do on the computer

The range of functions mirrors what a person would do at that computer:

• Files and folders: search, read, create, edit, copy and move, including on network drives.
• Office documents: create and edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint files directly on the computer.
• Terminal and scripts: run commands and scripts in a real terminal with live output.
• Code and projects: check Git status and diffs, start tests and builds.
• Its own browser: open pages, fill in forms, produce screenshots and downloads.
• Operate programs: mouse, keyboard, scrolling and clipboard for desktop software without an API.

Typical use cases in mid-sized companies

Accounting and controlling

Many reports start with exports from local software. The worker merges these exports, creates an Excel analysis and makes the result available in the chat. The specialist reviews the result instead of copying data by hand.

File storage and network drives

Organically grown folder structures are a constant issue. The worker can tidy folders according to defined rules, rename documents consistently or search content across many files. If you want to make knowledge searchable permanently, the AI knowledge base guide describes the complementary approach.

Specialist applications without an interface

Older industry software often runs only on one particular computer and offers no API. The worker can operate such programs with mouse and keyboard – step by step and with your approval.

Development and IT

On a development machine, the worker changes code, starts tests and builds and shows the console output live – even while you are on the road.

Delegating on the go

You are at a customer's site and need a document that only exists on the office computer. You hand the task to the worker from your smartphone and open the result directly in the chat.

Control and approvals

An agent acting on a real computer needs clear guardrails. With the AIPE Worker, they are built into the product:

• Two working modes: In "Ask first" mode, you confirm risky actions individually. With "Free hand", AIPE works without individual prompts. You choose depending on the task.
• Approvals everywhere: If an action needs your consent, it appears as a card in the chat and on your smartphone. If an approval expires, the task pauses. It is never approved automatically.
• Local consent: Remote tasks can be switched off again on the computer at any time.
• Signed devices: Each worker signs in with its own device key. Tasks and approvals are bound to device, user and action. The worker belongs to exactly one user in one organisation.
• Share results deliberately: A file leaves the computer only when you confirm publishing it.
• Passwords stay local: Terminal input is only possible on the executing computer and reaches neither the model nor the chat.

This matters for companies because responsibility must remain traceable. Whoever delegates decides how much freedom the agent gets – and keeps the final say on critical steps. Read more about how to classify agents in our AI agents guide.

The limits of an AI worker

An AI worker is no substitute for clean processes and does not run by itself. You should know these limits:

• The computer must be running: The worker needs a switched-on Mac or Windows PC with an internet connection. If it is offline, it does not accept new tasks.
• System permissions: To operate programs, you must grant the operating system's permissions, such as accessibility, once on the computer.
• Operating via the interface is slower: Where an interface exists, a connector is usually faster and more robust than clicking through a user interface.
• Models make mistakes: Language models can misunderstand instructions. Check results, especially for figures and file changes. Start with "Ask first" until you know a task well.
• Precise tasks work better: "Combine the CSV files in folder X into a table with columns A, B, C" leads to the goal more reliably than "Do the month-end closing".

How to get started

To begin, choose a recurring, well-defined task that costs time today and whose result is easy to check – such as merging exports or renaming files according to fixed rules. Set up one computer as a worker, work in "Ask first" mode at first and widen the scope only once the results are right.

The AIPE Worker is part of the AIPE platform and can be combined with agents and company knowledge. You will find all details on the AIPE Worker page and the plans under pricing. If you would like to discuss a specific use case, book a demo.