A Mac AI assistant that takes actions should do more than generate instructions, but less than silently control the computer. The safe product boundary is an observable action loop: understand the request, inspect current state, propose typed steps, ask for approval when risk requires it, execute through the strongest available interface, verify the result, and preserve an undo or audit trail where possible.
Prefer semantic actions
Use application APIs, App Intents, Shortcuts, MCP tools, or the macOS Accessibility API when they expose the requested operation. These interfaces carry labels and state that are more durable than raw screen coordinates. Use visual grounding and pointer events as a fallback for applications without sufficient semantic access.
Separate planning from authority
The model can propose an action, but policy should decide whether it may run. Read-only navigation, reversible edits, external messages, downloads, and destructive mutations need different treatment. A planner output should be parsed into typed actions and validated before execution.
Verify after every material step
A click event only proves that input was sent. Verification should inspect the resulting window, control value, file, reminder, message draft, or other expected state. If the result is ambiguous, stop or recover; do not continue a long workflow on an assumed success.
Pace's action stack
Pace includes a typed tool registry, a plan-act-observe loop, application integrations, App Intents and deeplinks, accessibility and pointer execution, click scoring and recovery, undo for supported reversible mutations, failure narration, and local action history. Users can also record literal flows, install recipes, or teach natural-language skills that are re-grounded against the current screen. MCP connections and external services are optional.
Good first workflows
Start with bounded tasks whose outcome can be checked: open an application, create a reminder, draft rather than send an email, navigate a known interface, record a repeatable flow, or guide the user through an unfamiliar screen. Expand authority only after the verification path is reliable.
CTA: Review Pace's action and privacy model, then download it for a supported Mac.