Introduction
What Headmaster is and where you can use it
Headmaster is an AI agent workspace. You give it a task, and it works through the steps with you. It can read and write files, use tools, search the web, connect to your apps, remember what matters, and run jobs on a schedule. When an action could change something, it can stop and ask you first.
Headmaster is in public beta and is free during the beta. No card is needed.
How Headmaster is different from a chatbot
A chatbot answers a message. An agent finishes a job. When you ask Headmaster for something, it plans, picks tools, runs them, reads the results and keeps going until the task is done or it needs you.
You can watch every step. Each tool the agent uses shows up in the chat as a row you can open, so you can see what it ran and what came back. In web chat these are grouped under a Used N tools heading.
| A plain chatbot | Headmaster |
|---|---|
| Answers one message at a time | Works through a task in several steps |
| Forgets you between chats | Keeps a long-term memory for your account |
| Only writes text | Uses tools: files, terminal, browser, your apps |
| Waits for you to type | Can run tasks on a schedule |
| Does whatever it says it will | Asks for your approval before risky actions |
Where you can use it
Headmaster is one account, used from more than one place.
- Desktop app for Windows. The full workspace, with a Cloud mode and a Work mode. See Cloud and Work modes.
- Web chat. Sign in at headmaster.gcaplabs.com from any browser. See Web chat.
- iPhone. An iOS app is planned for later in the beta.
All of them use the same account and the same memory.
Cloud mode and Work mode
The desktop app can run your agent in two places.
- Cloud mode. The agent runs on a Headmaster-hosted workspace assigned to your account. It keeps working when your computer is off, and Cloud chats also appear in web chat. Cloud access is approved account by account during the beta.
- Work mode. The agent runs on your own PC, inside a folder you choose. It can read and edit your files and run commands there. Work mode needs no Cloud approval.
Web chat always uses Cloud mode. Read Cloud and Work modes for the full comparison.
The main ideas
These are the building blocks you will meet across the docs. Each has its own page.
Chats
A chat is one conversation with the agent. It holds your messages, the agent's replies and every tool step in between. You can search, pin, archive, share and export chats. See Conversations.
Models
A model is the AI that does the thinking. Every account starts with Headmaster Lite, which is fast and light. Headmaster Pro is more capable, for longer and harder tasks. You can also connect your own provider, such as a ChatGPT subscription or an API key. See Models and providers.
Memory
Headmaster keeps one long-term memory per account. Cloud mode, Work mode and web chat all read from and add to the same memory. You can browse it, search it and see how it changed over time. See Memory.
Tools, skills and connections
- Tools are actions the agent can take, like reading a file, running a command or searching the web. You can turn groups of tools on and off.
- Skills are packaged know-how for specific jobs. Some are built in, some come from a hub, and some the agent learns from your work.
- Connections link the agent to your apps, like a code host, a task tracker or a messaging app.
See Connections and integrations.
Approvals
Approvals decide when the agent must ask before acting. There are three modes: Manual (the default, which asks before actions that need approval), Smart (assesses each action and asks when needed) and Off (runs without prompts). See Approvals and safety.
Scheduled tasks
A scheduled task tells Headmaster to do something on a timetable, like a morning summary or a weekly report. Results show up in your chats. See Scheduled tasks.
What you can do with it
A few examples of real jobs Headmaster handles well:
- Research. "Find the three most cited papers on this topic from the last two years and summarize what each one found."
- Writing. "Turn these meeting notes into a short update for the team, with decisions, open questions and owners."
- Files (Work mode). "Go through the invoices folder, list any that are missing a due date, and put the list in a new spreadsheet."
- Code (Work mode). "Run the tests in this project, find the one that fails, and explain why."
- Your apps. "Check my open issues and draft a status note for each one that has not moved this week."
- Routines. "Every weekday at 8am, give me a summary of anything new in my inbox labelled Urgent."
What Headmaster will not do on its own
- It does not see files on your computer in Cloud mode or web chat. Only Work mode can, and only in the folder you choose.
- It does not use an app until you connect it, and you can turn off any single tool of a connected app.
- With the default Manual approval mode, it asks before running actions that need approval.
Beta details
- Headmaster is free during the beta.
- New Cloud accounts need approval. You can still use Work mode on the desktop app while you wait.
- Headmaster Lite and Headmaster Pro are the two Headmaster tiers.
- The desktop app is for Windows.
Next steps
- Get started: create an account, install the app and send your first message.
- Cloud and Work modes: choose where the agent runs.
- Models and providers: use Headmaster models or your own.
- Memory: see how Headmaster remembers.
- FAQ: quick answers to common questions.