Key points
- Tested agents include Dots, Slashy, Hark, Town, Thine, Instinct, Muse, Poke, Ambi, Sentience, Extra and Claude Duet.
- Dots is restricted to ChatGPT Pro at $100 per month, while Hark and Thine offer free tiers with paid upgrades.
- Connecting email, calendar and document accounts significantly improves the utility of tools like Thine and Dots.
A Fast Company report published by Wonder Tools evaluated twelve artificial intelligence agents for their ability to perform chief of staff duties.reported The author found that these tools can proactively research, book travel and organise documents without waiting for specific user commands.The author used these tools to handle daily tasks like booking trains and sorting emails.The evaluation highlights a shift from reactive chat interfaces to autonomous agents capable of multi-step execution.
Evidence: reported
I auditioned 12 AI agents to be my chief of staff. Here’s how they comparedaifleet-fastcompany
The evidence
The review compared twelve distinct agents: Thine, Instinct, ChatGPT’s Dots, Town, Hark, Muse, Poke, Ambi, Sentience, Extra, Slashy and Claude Duet. The author described these systems as the most significant advancement in artificial intelligence this year. Unlike previous chatbots, these agents can take independent action to complete tedious projects.
The decision
Early testing identified Dots, Slashy and Hark as the most reliable options for general administrative support. Dots helped identify calendar conflicts and prepare work materials, leading to several daily uses. Slashy integrated directly into the inbox, offering a strong alternative to dedicated email applications like Superhuman.
What the evidence means
Hark was noted for its design reliability in handling shopping and reservation tasks. Town was described as well designed but specifically tuned for small businesses and midmarket companies rather than individual users. The author stated that business agents will be a separate category.
What builders can do with it
Developers can build agents that connect to email, calendar, documents and meeting transcripts to increase utility. Thine and Dots demonstrated significantly improved performance once linked to these data sources. Builders can create systems that proactively surface overlooked contracts or turn physical bookshelves into visual reading lists.
Why it matters
- Agents can now execute complex multi-step tasks like booking Amtrak tickets without continuous user prompting.
- Integration with existing productivity tools like Granola transcripts and email inboxes is critical for agent utility.
- Pricing models vary widely, from free tiers to $100 monthly subscriptions, affecting adoption strategies for different user segments.
- The source states that business agents will be a separate category from personal tools.
Topics: AI agents, productivity tools, Fast Company, Wonder Tools, automation
Updated
Then / now / next
Older chatbots required users to provide specific prompts for every action.
New agents can proactively research, buy items and fill forms without waiting for instructions.
The author plans to publish a dedicated post about using Slashy to manage email overload.
Story timeline
- Then Older chatbots required users to provide specific prompts for every action.
- 02 Nov 2026 I auditioned 12 AI agents to be my chief of staff. Here’s how they compared
- 03 Nov 2026 Claude API Release Notes page updated: Text generated by Claude Mythos 5, Claude Opus 4.7, and Claude Sonnet 4.6 carries Anthropi
- 03 Nov 2026 Revolut says it cut AI coding inference costs by ~90% in less than a year by making self-hosted GLM models its default over commercial tools like Claude Code (Tobias Mann/The Register)
- 04 Nov 2026 Introducing Images 2.6
- 04 Nov 2026 v2.1.318
- 04 Nov 2026 Cat Wu, product lead for Claude Code and Cowork, has left Anthropic; Thariq Shihipar, who worked on Claude Code, announced his departure last month (Stephen Council/Business Insider)
- 04 Nov 2026 Claude API Release Notes page updated: Python SDK 1.12.0 and TypeScript SDK 0.132.0 add classes, in beta, for the browser use too
- Now New agents can proactively research, buy items and fill forms without waiting for instructions.
- Next The author plans to publish a dedicated post about using Slashy to manage email overload.
For readers
Policy
- Agents require access to emails, calendars and personal documents to function effectively.
- Users are advised to check ongoing costs and how each service uses their data before connecting accounts.
Business
- Town is positioned specifically for small businesses and midmarket companies with tailored features.
- Agents can surface overlooked contracts and organise reading lists, improving administrative efficiency.
Consumers
- Users can start with free tiers of agents like Hark, Thine and Instinct before subscribing.
- Connecting accounts to email and calendars significantly improves the usefulness of agents like Dots.
Ask the article
Local keyword search of this article; no generated answers.Did this article give you the evidence you needed?
Your choice stays on this device. No public tally.Questions readers ask
Which AI agents were tested in the review?
The review tested Thine, Instinct, ChatGPT’s Dots, Town, Hark, Muse, Poke, Ambi, Sentience, Extra, Slashy and Claude Duet.
How much does ChatGPT’s Dots cost?
Dots is available only on ChatGPT’s Pro plan, which starts at $100 per month.
Can these agents book travel tickets?
Yes, the report states that the agents researched and booked Amtrak train tickets for the author.
Connected stories
Reading receipt
- Tested agents include Dots, Slashy, Hark, Town, Thine, Instinct, Muse, Poke, Ambi, Sentience, Extra and Claude Duet.
- Dots is restricted to ChatGPT Pro at $100 per month, while Hark and Thine offer free tiers with paid upgrades.
- Connecting email, calendar and document accounts significantly improves the utility of tools like Thine and Dots.
Still open: How will pricing models stabilise as more agents mature?
Still open: What are the specific data usage policies for each of the twelve tested agents?