If workflows handle fixed, repetitive work, an AI Coworker is a teammate you can hand any kind of work to in chat. Hire one, talk to it, and even let it run unattended with scheduled tasks.
What is an AI Coworker?
An AI Coworker is a conversational coworker equipped with work instructions, reference materials, connectors, and a model. From organizing documents to research, writing, and review, you can hand it work in chat without a fixed structure.
How is it different from a workflow?
AI Workflows
Suited to work where documents of the same kind keep coming in. Nodes fix the processing order so it runs automatically against the same criteria every time. Example: settling the receipts that come in every day
AI Coworkers
Suited to work whose format varies or whose requirements change each time. Hand it work flexibly in conversation, and the coworker uses its instructions, materials, and connected apps to get it done. Example: research, document drafts, sorting email
AI Coworkers don't replace workflows. When accuracy on repetitive work matters, choose a workflow; when you want to hand something off the way you'd ask a person, choose a coworker.
Hiring a coworker
See your coworker list under AI Coworkers in the sidebar, and create a new coworker with Hire coworker. Decide on a name and the work it will take on, then connect the reference materials it needs.
Build the profile with AI
In Create with AI, write what you want to hand off and click Auto-fill profile; the name, job title, and work instructions are filled in automatically. You can also write everything yourself from scratch.
Profile and work instructions
Set the name (for example, "Alex"), job title, and profile image, and write the Work instructions (the name, job title, and work instructions are required). Use Refine with AI to tidy up the instructions, or Align job title & instructions to get a job title suggested that fits the instructions.
Reference materials and connectors
Connect the materials the coworker should refer to with Choose from collections or Upload from computer (Collections), and connect the apps it needs (Google Drive, Gmail, and so on) as connectors (Connectors).
Model and advanced settings
In the model settings you can adjust response diversity, range of expression, and reasoning depth (the default, Auto, is recommended). In the advanced settings, set a Short introduction and Starter questions. Click Suggest a question with AI to get candidates; the top three appear in new chats.
Finish hiring
Click Hire coworker at the bottom and you're done. You go straight to a new chat with that coworker.
Changing settings: You can edit a coworker at any time from View profile β Edit settings in the more menu of the chat screen. Changed settings apply from the next new chat. To delete a coworker, use Remove coworker in the same menu. This permanently removes the coworker along with its conversation history. Only the owner can do this.
"The key to hiring a coworker is work instructions and reference materials. The clearer the job and the materials, the better the results."
Conversations and memory
All work with a coworker happens in conversation. When you open a coworker, a greeting appears with Try starting with question cards, so even the first time it's easy to get a feel for what to hand off.
The chat screen
- Input box: Attach files or paste URLs along with your message. Tools such as web search and document translation are also used during the conversation.
- Chats: Search past conversations on the left, and rename or delete them. Start a new topic with New chat in the header, and use Change coworker to jump straight to another coworker.
- App connection requests: If the coworker needs a connector that isn't connected, it asks you to connect it during the conversation. Once connected, it carries on.
- Favorites: Pin a coworker you use often to the sidebar with Add to favorites in the more menu.
Memory: a coworker that knows you better over time
A coworker builds up the work context from your conversations as memories. You can check them under Memories with this coworker in the more menu, and these memories are used only in conversations with that coworker.
All memories are managed under Settings β Organization β Memory. You can turn Use saved memories and Save new memories on or off, and view or delete personal memories and AI Coworker memories.
When a task runs long, feel free to step away. You get a notification when the task finishes or needs your input.
"A coworker grows through memory. If you find yourself repeating the same explanation, check that the memory settings are on."
Scheduled tasks
Scheduled tasks let you hand a coworker work automatically at set times. Set the job and the time, and it runs on its own; you check the results in the conversation.
Schedule a task
In the coworker's View profile β Scheduled tasks section, click New scheduled task and set the name, the job, the repeat cycle (daily, weekly, or monthly), and the run time. Click Polish to make the job description clearer.
Set run permissions
Choose whether to ask every time for actions that need approval (Always ask), ask only when needed (Ask when needed), or run without asking (Run without asking). For schedules that read outside material or act in apps, starting with Always ask is the safer choice.
Unattended runs and checking results
At the set time, the coworker carries out the task on its own. With connectors in place, you can even hand off checking an inbox or tidying a Drive folder. The result stays in that coworker's conversation, and you get a notification when it completes. Check the history in Run history, or try it right away with Run now.
A task can start up to 5 minutes later than the set time, and it pauses automatically after 5 consecutive failures, so check the history before restarting it. Scheduled tasks count against the active organization's usage (Accounts and pricing).
Examples: summarizing your inbox every morning, drafting a weekly report every Friday, organizing new documents in a folder on the 1st of every month.
"Set up a scheduled task and recurring work gets done automatically. Just prepare the job, the time, and the connectors it needs."
Coworker library
In the AI Coworkers tab of the Library, you can browse finished coworkers and hire them, or publish your own coworker to share it.
Hiring from the Library
- Explore with tags (research, analysis, writing, review, and so on), a language filter, and sorting by most hired.
- On the detail screen, check the starter questions and settings, then click Hire this coworker to copy it into your coworkers. Conversation history is not copied.
- Coworkers provided by Upstage are included in the list by default.
Publishing your coworker
Choose tags and publish from Publish to Library in the more menu of the chat screen. It appears in the Library right away, and you can edit or withdraw it later from Manage library publication.
Check the reference materials before publishing. A published coworker can be hired by any user, including users in other organizations. Make sure the work instructions and reference materials contain no personal information or internal confidential data before you publish.
"A well-built coworker becomes a team asset. Hire coworkers and share them with teammates to spread know-how."