OpenWork: Open-Source AI Agent for Autonomous Tasks
A powerful local, indie alternative to Claude's Computer Use – now available to download
What is OpenWork?
OpenWork is a brand-new open-source AI agent launched January 14, 2026 from an intense two-day hackathon. Quickly gaining attention on X (over 2.5K likes and 3K bookmarks in <24 hours), it provides desktop "computer-use" capabilities similar to Anthropic's Claude Computer Use – but completely open-source and running locally on your machine (currently Mac-only).
Give it a natural language goal and OpenWork autonomously breaks it down, plans, and executes complex multi-step tasks including:
- Web browsing & research
- File management & organization
- Document/spreadsheet creation
- Email drafting & sending (Gmail integration)
- Google Drive operations
It uses your own AI model API key (Claude, Gemini, etc.) for reasoning – no vendor lock-in and your data stays on your computer.
Perfect Fit for Directory & Event Workflows
Directory Enrichment
Automate web searches to verify listings, gather missing information, update local files/databases, and even draft personalized outreach emails for upgrades.
Event Management
Research potential sponsors & speakers, draft invitation emails, prepare marketing materials, and with custom skills – automate weekly sponsor checks or social posting.
Pros & Cons at a Glance
| Aspect | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Autonomy | Strong multi-step planning & background execution • Templates for recurring tasks | Requires initial action approvals • Some early bugs (loops, debug issues) |
| Task Fit | Excellent for web research, file ops, email drafting & reporting | Limited built-in integrations (custom skills needed) • Currently Mac-only |
| Cost & Setup | Completely free & open-source (MIT) • Quick DMG install | v0.1 alpha quality • May need Node/Rust for development builds |
| Security | Local execution • Isolated browser • User-controlled permissions | Model hallucination risk • Approval steps add some friction |
Ready to Try It?
To download OpenWork and get started right away, visit:
https://www.accomplish.ai/openwork/
Perfect for testing simple tasks like:
"Enrich 10 listings from portalhongkong.com with latest web data and draft personalized upgrade emails"