- WorkBuddy's new file browser lets users right-click local documents to open them in an AI-integrated editor, bypassing the traditional chat-first workflow.
- The feature supports Word, Excel, PPT, PDF, Markdown and HTML, with AI-generated edits highlighted in yellow within the original document.
- Local file viewing and editing are free; only AI-powered tasks are charged per task, and the application only accesses files the user explicitly opens.
AI at the File Level
Tencent on October 8 officially launched a standalone file browser for WorkBuddy, its office-oriented AI agent product. The update moves the AI entry point from a conversational dialog box to the local file system itself, allowing users to right-click any supported document and select WorkBuddy from the "Open With" menu, or set it as the default application for double-click access.
The standalone window displays the current document on the left and a Buddy AI chat panel on the right, with multi-tab support so each open file maintains its own conversation context. Tencent described the design as extending WorkBuddy's push to embed AI into real work workflows rather than keeping it siloed in a separate chat interface.
Co-Writing, Saving and Privacy
For editable formats, the file browser retains WorkBuddy's existing human-AI co-writing capability. Users can either edit directly or highlight passages for Buddy to rewrite, polish or expand, with AI-generated changes marked in yellow within the original text. Word, Excel and PPT files save modifications back to the local file upon saving; Markdown auto-saves and HTML saves when exiting edit mode. If the same file is modified in another application, WorkBuddy prompts the user to refresh or save a copy rather than overwriting silently.
Newly generated files default to the original file's directory and can be opened in a new tab, shared, or uploaded to Tencent Docs for collaboration. Markdown and HTML files also integrate with WeChat: recipients can preview them via a WorkBuddy mini-program and forward them into a Buddy conversation for summarization or rewriting. Preview itself is free, while AI summarization and rewriting are charged per task.
Tencent stated that viewing and editing local files does not consume credits, with charges applied only when AI capabilities are invoked. The file browser reads only files the user actively opens or adds, and does not scan the computer's disk.
Sources & context
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