Yao
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What is Yao?
Yao Agents is an open-source desktop AI agent application that gives you a team of AI experts running entirely on your own devices. Unlike cloud-based AI tools, your data never leaves your machine—everything is stored locally with no third-party cloud involvement. The app comes with 30+ built-in AI assistants for coding, writing, research, and automation, ready to use immediately without setup.
Key features include autonomous agents that work across multiple devices via Tai Link, allowing you to register remote machines as Yao nodes while your main computer stays untouched. The Keeper agent reads, summarizes, and organizes web pages, PDFs, videos, and podcasts as your private knowledge manager. Robots run autonomously for scheduled checks, knowledge collection, and data processing without needing constant prompting. The Applet Workshop can spin up custom tools on the spot with live preview, while Web Builder scaffolds websites with Next.js + Tailwind and deploys with one click.
Yao Agents is designed for developers, professionals, and anyone wanting local AI control. Developers can build custom agents using Hooks, MCP, and Processes, or use community Skills. It's compatible with Claude and OpenClaw ecosystems. The app includes Insights for data analysis with interactive ECharts dashboards, Slides for presentation generation, Market Scout for monitoring industry news, and Project Manager paired with Postman Robots for automated email triage and project tracking.
The software runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux, with Yao Desktop including a Dashboard and settings UI while Linux provides a CLI binary for server deployment. It uses an Apache 2.0 modified license with full source code on GitHub for verification. A model service is provided with Claude, GPT, and DeepSeek built-in, though you can also connect your own model provider.
Yao pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
Yao Agents is currently in open beta and available as free open-source software under an Apache 2.0 modified license. The desktop app can be downloaded for macOS, Windows, and Linux at no cost. To make it easy to try, the developers provide a model service with popular models like Claude, GPT, and DeepSeek built in—just sign up and go. Users can also connect their own model provider instead of using the built-in service. There is no mention of paid tiers or subscription plans on the website, as the core software is free and self-hosted.
Yao pros
- Open-source with full GitHub code for privacy verification
- Data stays completely local—no third-party cloud
- 30+ AI assistants built-in and ready immediately
- No setup required to start working
- Agents work autonomously across multiple devices
- Tai Link lets you use old/dusty computers as AI nodes
- Your main computer stays untouched while agents work on dedicated machines
- Compatible with Claude and OpenClaw ecosystems
- Build custom agents with Hooks, MCP, and Processes
- Keeper summarizes web pages, PDFs, videos, and podcasts
- Applet Workshop creates custom tools on the spot with live preview
- Web Builder deploys Next.js + Tailwind sites with one click
- Insights connects to databases/spreadsheets for ECharts dashboards
- Apache 2.0 modified license—auditable and transparent
- Choose your own AI model or use built-in service
- Slides generates presentations from outlines, exports to PDF
- Market Scout auto-monitors and categorizes industry news
- Project Manager Robot automates email triage and project tracking
Yao cons
- Currently in open beta with known bugs
- Yao Agents Hub in closed testing—community experts not yet available
- AI-generated expert assistant feature not yet available
- Requires multiple devices to fully utilize Tai Link cross-device features
- Must install separate Tai Link component for remote device registration
- Linux version only provides CLI binary—no desktop UI for server deployment
- Third-party agent ecosystem integrations still coming
- Self-hosted setup requires technical knowledge for full deployment
Frequently asked questions about Yao
What is Yao Agents?
Yao Agents is an open-source desktop AI agent application that gives you a team of AI experts running entirely on your own devices. Install it and you have a full AI expert team standing by on your machine. Your data stays local, you pick the model, and it just works. It comes with 30+ AI experts ready out of the box.
Where is my data stored?
Everything is stored on your devices with no third-party cloud involvement. Your data stays local, which is why the app is open-source and auditable—you can verify every privacy claim by checking the full source code on GitHub.
What platforms does Yao Agents support?
Yao Agents is available for macOS, Windows, and Linux. The desktop version (Yao Desktop) includes Dashboard and settings UI. For Linux, a CLI binary is provided for server deployment. Tai Link is also available for all three platforms to connect remote devices.
Can I build my own AI agents?
Yes. Developers can build custom agents using Hooks, MCP, and Processes, or use community Skills directly. The app is compatible with Claude and OpenClaw ecosystems. There is a Yao Agent development tutorial available to help you build one from scratch.
What AI models can I use?
You can use the provided model service with popular models like Claude, GPT, and DeepSeek built in—just sign up and go. Alternatively, you can connect your own model provider to use whatever models you prefer.
How does Tai Link work?
Tai Link lets you connect your devices so AI agents can work across all your machines. You register remote machines as Yao nodes, and agents work autonomously across all your devices while your main computer stays untouched. This is perfect for putting old dusty computers to work.
What can the Keeper agent do?
Keeper is your private knowledge agent that reads, summarizes, and organizes web pages, PDFs, videos, and podcasts. Found a great article? Drop the link to Keeper and it reads, summarizes, tags, and files it away so you can search for it anytime later.
Is Yao Agents free?
Yes, Yao Agents is open-source software available for free under an Apache 2.0 modified license. You can download and install it at no cost. The developers also provide a free model service with built-in Claude, GPT, and DeepSeek access for trying out the app.
What is the current development status?
Yao Agents is in open beta as of April 2026. There will be bugs, and the team asks users to report issues. Yao Agents Hub and the AI-generated expert assistant feature are currently in closed testing and will be available soon for installing community experts or having AI generate custom ones.
What robots and automation features are available?
Robots run autonomously for scheduled checks, knowledge collection, and data processing without needing prompting. You can create a Robot, tell it what it's responsible for, and it will assess situations, make decisions, and get things done on its own then report back. Examples include Postman Robot for automated email triage and Project Manager for tracking project progress.