Umber does the cognitive work, you review the results
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| "Plan my vacation" → Creates tasks for YOU | Umber researches, analyzes, presents options |
| You do all the research | Umber does cognitive heavy lifting |
| Generic task lists | Enriched deliverables with context |
| No visibility into work | Real-time progress updates |
Instead of "research flights" tasks, Umber presents you with curated options, price comparisons, and booking recommendations.
Instead of generic "compare products" tasks, you get a detailed comparison matrix with pros, cons, and a personalized recommendation.
Instead of a checklist dump, Umber handles vendor research, creates timelines, and presents venue options with availability.
Instead of "get quotes" tasks, Umber researches contractors, compares reviews, and presents vetted options with estimates.
The goal is to shift cognitive load from user to assistant. You're no longer managing a project—you're reviewing work product and making decisions. Umber becomes your research team, not your task manager.
Users see real-time updates as Umber works through complex requests.
Agent work appears as a distinct item type in the to-do list with progress indicators.
Split view showing background agent work alongside user-actionable tasks.
When tapped, agent work expands to show full progress, artifacts, and deliverables.
How agent work appears when steps fail or are retrying.
Minimal inline indicator when agent work is referenced in chat messages.
When tasks DO need user action, they come enriched with context from Umber's research.
Traditional assistants would create tasks like "Research travel dates" or "Find hotels." Instead, Umber did that research and now presents enriched decisions with context, trade-offs, and clear actions. The user makes informed choices instead of doing busywork.
Work Item Extraction
LLM classifies request → internal work items
Capability Classification
Routes work to appropriate agents/tools
Decomposition Engine
Breaks work into context-window-safe chunks
Artifact Management
Stores intermediate results for synthesis
Synthesis Orchestration
Combines artifacts into user deliverables
Progress Visibility
Real-time WebSocket updates to UI
The system decomposes user requests into work that the agent performs, not work for the user. Users receive deliverables (comparisons, recommendations, curated options) rather than task lists. Only decisions that require human judgment become enriched user tasks.