AI Thing
AI Thing · Coding
AI Thing is a privacy-first AI automation tool for Mac that runs simple or complex tasks in the background. It works as a desktop AI agent, using BYOK AI models and keeping files local.
About AI Thing
What Is AI Thing
AI Thing is a desktop AI automation tool that lives as a small movable notch on the right edge of your screen. You type a request, and it handles the task in the background while you keep working somewhere else. It targets people who want AI to do real work on their machine, not just answer questions in a chat window.
The pitch rests on control. The developer assumes everything on your screen is sensitive, so the app starts with nothing shared and waits for you to allow access. Conversations, files, and API keys stay local instead of sitting on a server. You supply your own model keys, so the provider bills you directly and the app itself does not charge for usage.
The main limits are platform and setup. The current build is Mac only, with Windows on a waitlist. Because you bring your own keys, you need an account with a model provider such as Anthropic, OpenAI, or Google before AI Thing can do much. It's now fully open source, so you can inspect or build on the code.
Getting Started
- Download the AI Thing.dmg file for Mac and drag the app into your Applications folder.
- Open the app and toggle it with Control + Space; it appears as a small notch on the right edge of your screen.
- Open Settings, go to the Models tab, and paste an API key from Anthropic, OpenAI, or Google.
- Connect an agent such as Google Workspace from the Accounts tab, granting only the permissions you need.
- Type a request like "Summarize all meetings and tasks for today" and let it run in the background.
Product Information
A quick look at AI Thing's pricing, supported platforms, and performance.
Best for
The users, tasks, and scenarios where this tool fits best.
Users
- Privacy-conscious professionals
- Developers and tinkerers
- Mac power users
Tasks
- Running repetitive background jobs
- Managing email and documents
- Working with local files
Scenarios
- Starting the day
- Handling a spreadsheet request
- Cleaning up selected text
Key features
BYOK AI Models
AI Thing does not bundle a model. You plug in your own API key from Anthropic Claude, OpenAI GPT-5, or Google Gemini, and you can mix several models inside one conversation. Because you pay the provider directly, the app never charges for usage and never forwards your data unless you connect a key.
Managed Agents
Connect agents like Google Workspace, GitHub, Notion, Linear, and others with one click. Each connection runs on granular permissions, so an agent gets just enough access to finish a task and nothing more. The Google Workspace agent is hosted by AI Thing and covers Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, and Sheets.
Background Automations
Set recurring or one-off automations that run on your schedule, turning the app into a hands-off privacy-first AI assistant. A task can keep working after you close the window, which turns a manual chore into something that finishes on its own. You decide when each automation starts and what it's allowed to touch.
Selective Context
The app shares nothing by default and lets you choose exactly what AI sees. Instead of capturing your whole screen, it waits for you to point at a document, a selection, or a window. That keeps unrelated content out of the model's view and cuts down on noise.
Secure Local Files
Use files with AI while they stay on your device. Nothing gets uploaded to a server, so contracts, drafts, and internal documents never leave your machine. The tradeoff is that heavy local work leans on your own hardware.
Local History
Conversations are stored on your machine rather than in the cloud. You can look back at past tasks and hand off context without a vendor holding the transcript, which matters if your work touches anything confidential.
Pros and cons
Pros
- BYOK setup means you pay model providers directly and the app adds no usage fee.
- Privacy-first design keeps files, keys, and conversation history on your own machine.
- One-click agents for Google Workspace, GitHub, and Notion cover a lot of daily work.
- Open-source code lets you check how it works and adapt it to your needs.
Cons
- It's Mac only right now, so Windows users are stuck on a waitlist.
- You need your own model API key, which adds a setup step and a separate provider bill.
- Local processing leans on your hardware, so heavy tasks can slow your machine.
- Windows and some agent integrations are still early, so the feature set keeps shifting.
Frequently asked questions
AI Thing is a Mac automation tool that runs tasks in the background while you work elsewhere. You use it to summarize meetings, manage email, edit documents, and handle repetitive jobs through connected agents.
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