Set up a desk with AI

You do not have to build every desk by hand. Describe what you are trying to do and AI suggests the widgets to do it with, already set up: a table with the right columns, a page with headings and starter content, fields for the values you want to track. You pick which ones to keep, and nothing is added to your desk until you do.

There are three ways to get AI's help setting up a desk:

• Build with AI, from the desk's header, works on any desk at any time.
• Have AI suggest the setup runs once, when you create a desk.
• The suggestion at the bottom of a desk proposes one next step, worked out from what is already on it.

Before you start

• These work the same on every plan.
• Build with AI and Have AI suggest the setup need AI to be set up: PlexiDesk credits while you are signed in, or your own Anthropic key. See AI credits and where your AI runs Coming soon.
• Build with AI adds widgets to the desk you have open, so open the desk first. To start a new desk, see Create a desk.

Build with AI from the header

1. Open the desk.
2. In the header, find the desk's quick actions to the right of centre, and click the sparkle button. Its name, Build with AI, shows when you rest the pointer on it.
3. Under Describe what you want to achieve, type what you are trying to do in a sentence or two. Or click one of the examples, such as Track job applications or Plan a trip to Tokyo, to fill the box.
4. Click Generate, or press ⌘ Enter on a Mac or Ctrl Enter on Windows.
5. While AI works, the window shows Designing your workspace…. Then it shows what it suggests.
6. Read What I heard, a one-line summary of how AI understood your request, and the suggestion cards below it.
7. Every suggestion starts ticked. Click a card, or its tick box, to untick anything you do not want. The bottom of the window counts how many are selected.
8. Click Add followed by the number to place, for example Add 5 to canvas.

The widgets are placed in rows below what is already on the desk, and the view moves so you can see the desk.

What each suggestion shows

Each card shows the widget type, such as Table, Page, Field or Sticky, the name AI gave it and a sentence on why it helps. Below that is a preview of what you will get:

• A table shows its columns, each with its type, such as date or number.
• A page shows its headings.
• A field shows its type.
• Other widgets show the start of their content, such as a sticky's text or a browser's web address.

Build with AI can suggest pages, tables, fields, stickies, notes, Markdown, browsers, timers and other widgets. It is told what is already on your desk, so its suggestions add to the desk rather than repeat it. Tables arrive with their columns set up and no rows yet, ready for your data. See Table widget.

Not quite right?

• Change your description and click Regenerate. You get a fresh set of suggestions, all ticked again.
• To close without adding anything, click Cancel, press Esc or click outside the window.
• To take it all back after adding, click an empty part of the desk and press ⌘ Z on a Mac or Ctrl Z on Windows. Everything Build with AI added comes off in one step. See Undo and redo.

Build with AI only adds new widgets. It does not change or remove the widgets already on your desk.

Have AI suggest the setup for a new desk

When you create a desk, AI can propose a starting set of widgets, browsers and notes for it.

1. Click New desk at the top of the side menu, or press ⌘ K (Ctrl K on Windows) and choose New folder or task.
2. Give the desk a clear name, and a line of notes if you can. AI bases its suggestions on them.
3. Tick Have AI suggest the setup, then click Create Desk.
4. The desk opens and the Let me set up your desk window appears while AI looks at your task.
5. Untick anything you do not want. Each suggestion shows its name, its widget type and a sentence on why it helps.
6. Click Set up followed by the number of widgets, for example Set up 4 widgets →. They are placed on the new desk.

To add nothing, click Cancel. For everything else in the New Desk window, see Create a desk.

The suggestion at the bottom of a desk

Sometimes a small bar with a lightbulb appears at the bottom centre of a desk with one suggested next step. It is worked out from the widgets on the desk, not written by AI, and it only appears when one of these fits:

To act on it:

1. Rest the pointer on Set it up to see what to ask Plexii, for example "set up an agent to summarise this desk".
2. Click Set it up. The Plexii panel opens.
3. Ask Plexii, in those words or your own. Any changes Plexii proposes arrive as cards for you to approve. See Review and apply Plexii's changes Coming soon.

To hide the suggestion, click its ×. That suggestion does not come back for that desk on this computer. To learn about agents, see Desk agent widget.

AI for a single widget

To fill in or change one widget rather than the whole desk, use that widget's own AI. Right-click a Sticky, Note, Markdown, Card, Mind map or Diagram widget and choose Build with AI to have AI draft content for it, then choose what to add.

Every widget's title bar has an AI button. What it is called depends on the widget, for example Write with AI on a sticky that is still empty. On many widgets it opens the widget's own AI. On the others it brings the widget to Plexii so you can ask about it. Nothing changes until you approve it.

See Use a widget's AI button and The controls on every widget.

Which one to use

Common questions

The window shows a message about setting up AI instead of suggestions. AI is not set up yet. Sign in to use PlexiDesk credits, or add your own Anthropic key in Settings > AI. You do not need to restart PlexiDesk. Then click Generate again. See AI settings.

The window shows a message instead of suggestions, and AI is set up. Try describing your goal in different words, then click Generate again.

Have AI suggest the setup is not in the New Desk window. It is in the New Desk window you open from New desk in the side menu or from the command palette. Open the window from one of those.

Where did the new widgets go? Below everything that was already on the desk. If you cannot see them, see Move around the canvas.

Related tasks

• Create a desk
• Use a widget's AI button
• Tidy, auto-arrange and Smart Stack
• Desk quick actions in the header
• Meet Plexii, your assistant