Workspaice: Human+AI, creating together

Update: workspaice now has its own website. track future updates via www.workspaicehq.com

I’ve been working on something exciting that I can’t wait to share with you all. It’s called Workspaice, and it’s been quite a journey bringing this idea to life. I want to tell you about this project, my motivations behind it, and how I see it changing the way we create and collaborate.

Those of you that have been following my AI adventures will probably remember that 2 years ago I did a PoC for an AI that would expand its features by building its own source code. Since that time I’ve been interested in building things together with AI. But the models were too limited, or too expensive. That changed when Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Sonnet was released. I finally found something that I could work with, cost-wise, and with good enough quality.

At its core, Workspaice is a locally-run application that brings together human creativity and AI assistance. It’s not just another code generator or project management tool. Instead, it’s a flexible workspace where you can create almost anything – from software applications to educational content, and beyond.

The Power of Local-First

One thing that was really important to me was making Workspaice run locally on your own computer. In a world where everything seems to be moving to the cloud, I wanted to create something that prioritized privacy and speed. Plus, there’s something comforting about knowing your work and ideas are right there on your machine, not floating somewhere in the digital ether. Besides, the AI will make a very intensive use of locally available tools and system commands to get the job done.

Beyond Software Development

While Workspaice can certainly help with coding (and does it quite well, I might add), I’ve been amazed at how versatile it’s become. In the demo video I created, I showcase three very different projects:

1. A desktop app for audio transcription (using an API)
2. A web app with a database backend
3. A homeschooling guide for summer activities for kids

This variety wasn’t just for show – it represents the real flexibility I wanted to build into Workspaice. Whether you’re a developer, educator, writer, or just someone with a cool idea, Workspaice is designed to be your creative partner.

Working alongside an AI in Workspaice is a unique experience. It’s not about the AI taking over or doing the work for you. Instead, it’s a collaborative process where you can bounce ideas back and forth, refine concepts, and iteratively improve your work. It’s like having a knowledgeable colleague always ready to brainstorm or lend a hand, but one who never gets tired or needs a coffee break!

I recently recorded a 57-minute video demonstrating Workspaice in action. I decided to keep it uncut to show the real-time process, warts and all (there’s an EPIC FAIL in it as well, but I won’t spoil the surprise). It’s not always lightning-fast, and there are moments of contemplation and problem-solving. But that’s the reality of creation, isn’t it? If you’re curious, you can check it out here (don’t worry, I’ve added timestamps for the highlights so you can safely skip ahead if you don’t have 57minutes to spare 😉 ).

Looking Ahead

Workspaice is still a prototype, a proof of concept, but it’s a fully functional one that I’m proud of. I’ve submitted it as my entry to Anthropic’s Build with Claude contest, which has been an exciting opportunity to showcase what’s possible.

I’m excited about the potential of Workspaice, but even if it doesn’t work out (whatever that means), it’s already quite useful to me!