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WorkBuddy's New Trick: Right-Click a File, Chat With AI

Tencent WorkBuddy has launched a standalone file browser, and it's changing how you interact with AI. Instead of opening a chat window first, you now start with your files. On October 8th, the company rolled out this feature, moving the AI entry point from the chat interface directly to the local files on your computer.

Here's how it works. Find a Word, Excel, PPT, PDF, Markdown, or HTML file on your machine. Right-click it, select "Open With," and choose WorkBuddy. A standalone window pops up. You can also set WorkBuddy as the default opener, so a double-click gets you straight in. After updating, no extra download is needed.

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The window splits neatly: your current file on the left, Buddy chat on the right. You can switch between multiple file tabs, and each file keeps its own conversation context. That means you can work on a report, jump to a spreadsheet, and come back without losing your thread.

Features that feel like a co-writer

For editable files, the standalone window keeps the full "human-AI co-writing" experience. You can tweak text directly, or select a paragraph and ask Buddy to rewrite, polish, or expand it. Changes show up as yellow blocks in the original text, so you always see what's been altered.

Word, Excel, and PPT files write back to the local file when you save. Markdown saves automatically. HTML saves when you exit editing mode. And if you try to close a window with unsaved changes, you'll get a prompt. No accidental data loss.

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What if you edit the same file in another app? WorkBuddy won't silently overwrite your work. Instead, it asks whether you want to refresh to the latest version or save a copy. Newly generated files land in the original file directory by default. From there, you can open them in a new tab, share them, upload to a library, or collaborate with Tencent Docs.

WeChat integration for Markdown and HTML

Markdown and HTML files also plug into WeChat scenarios. When you receive these file types in WeChat, you can preview and forward them directly through the WorkBuddy mini program. Or add them to a conversation for Buddy to summarize or rewrite. Previewing doesn't cost any points.

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So why does this matter? It's a subtle but significant shift. AI assistants have mostly lived in chat windows, waiting for you to bring content to them. WorkBuddy flips that. Now the AI comes to your files. You don't have to copy-paste or upload anything. The context is right there, and the assistant is one right-click away.

For anyone who juggles documents all day, that's a small change with a big impact. It makes AI feel less like a separate tool and more like a natural part of your desktop workflow.

Key Points

  • Standalone file browser: Right-click any supported file and choose "Open With" WorkBuddy to enter a dedicated editing window.
  • Split view: File on the left, Buddy chat on the right, with multi-tab support and separate conversation contexts.
  • Co-writing features: Select text for rewriting, polishing, or expanding; changes marked with yellow blocks.
  • Smart saving: Word/Excel/PPT save back to local files; Markdown and HTML auto-save; conflict prompts prevent overwrites.
  • WeChat integration: Preview and forward Markdown/HTML files via WorkBuddy mini program; previews are free.
  • No extra download: Update WorkBuddy and you're ready to go.