SHENZHEN-BASED tech giant Tencent on Monday launched WorkBuddy, a new all-scenario AI agent designed to automate everyday computer tasks and workplace workflows.

According to the company, the tool is fully compatible with the capabilities of OpenClaw — an open-source AI agent that has recently gained popularity in China’s tech community.

While OpenClaw has been extremely popular since its launch, its complicated setup process has been a major obstacle for many users, making it a pain point for many. WorkBuddy is a tool that completely eliminates the complicated setup process required by OpenClaw, and it can be set up and connected in just one minute, especially when controlled via WeChat.

Users can download and install WorkBuddy from the official website and begin using it by simply entering commands. WorkBuddy can perform tasks such as automatically organizing, categorizing and summarizing unorganized files on the user’s computer, automatically generating statistical reports and displaying visualization charts based on messy data in existing Excel sheets, or automatically gathering information from the web to perform market analysis.

It can be remotely controlled through WeCom, Tencent’s enterprise communication platform also known as WeChat Work. The connection process can be completed in as little as one minute, enabling users to manage tasks from their phones.

In addition, the agent can integrate with several commonly used workplace and messaging tools, including QQ, Feishu, and DingTalk.

WorkBuddy has completed a 2,000-person internal test, according to the company. With its release, PC-side AI assistants are accelerating their evolution from simple chat windows to an “autonomous driving” stage, equipped with underlying system operation permissions.

Zhou Hongyi, a member of China’s top political advisory body and founder of 360 Security Group, remarked on the sidelines of the ongoing two sessions that OpenClaw transforms abstract cloud software into a digital personal assistant residing on a user’s computer. Its key advantage, he emphasized, lies in its remarkable ease of use.

“Historically, high-end AI models were the preserve of a few tech giants and involved significant operating costs. OpenClaw breaks that monopoly, making AI both affordable and accessible for small and medium-sized enterprises and individual users,” Zhou said.

OpenClaw is an AI-powered digital personal assistant created by an Austria-born millennial inventor and later acquired by the U.S.-based company OpenAI. Unlike conventional tools that require direct prompts, OpenClaw runs locally on a user’s machine and can autonomously manage emails and navigate web browsers to complete workflows — particularly through various messaging applications. Its distinctive red lobster logo has earned it the playful nickname “AI lobster” among Chinese users.

On Chinese e-commerce platforms, remote installation services for OpenClaw are priced between 50 and 300 yuan (US$7 to US$40), while on-site installation services cost around 500 yuan.(SD News)

(In-depth reports on P4~5)