Asana, the popular work management software, is rolling out a new feature that lets workers interact with AI agents just like they would with a real coworker. These AI “teammates” are designed to help manage tasks and are currently available to some customers in a public preview. This move marks the third wave of AI tools added to Asana’s platform, aiming to make teamwork more efficient and flexible.

From Simple Assistants to Collaborative AI

Asana first introduced an AI assistant last year, mainly focused on helping individual users with specific tasks. Early this year, they added AI Studio, a no-code tool that could automate straightforward, repetitive workflows. Now, the company is taking a big step forward by introducing AI teammates—prebuilt agents that can handle a wider array of tasks and adapt to changing needs.

Victoria Chin, Asana’s senior director of product strategy, explained that these AI teammates are designed to do work that isn’t always the same each time. Unlike simple automation tools, these agents can take on more complex, evolving tasks. They can be customized based on the profile given to each agent, making them more versatile for different teams and projects.

How the AI Teammates Work and Their Capabilities

Users can talk to their AI teammates and assign work just like they would to a coworker. The AI can remember previous instructions and past work, giving it context to better assist with ongoing tasks. For example, an AI teammate could help coordinate a marketing campaign or track IT tickets, streamlining processes across entire teams or projects.

Asana offers a choice of large language models (LLMs) for these AI agents, including options from OpenAI and Anthropic. This gives companies flexibility in how they want their AI teammates to operate, based on security, performance, or other preferences. However, as more companies add AI to their tools, some CIOs are worried about “agent sprawl”—the risk of having too many AI systems that duplicate efforts or create security issues.

Prebuilt and Custom AI Teammates for Different Use Cases

At launch, Asana plans to offer 12 ready-made AI teammates for common tasks, such as managing marketing campaigns or handling IT issues like bug tracking and sprint planning. Companies will also have the option to build their own custom agents from scratch, tailoring them to specific workflows and needs.

Access to these AI teammates is initially limited to Asana’s top-tier AI Studio Pro customers. These clients will need to contact Asana’s sales team for pricing details. The feature is expected to be widely available to all AI Studio users by early 2026. Additionally, the AI teammates will have their own credit system, separate from existing AI usage rules, with details to be announced before the full launch.

Overall, Asana’s new AI teammates could make teamwork smoother by automating more complex tasks and reducing the need for manual effort. As AI continues to grow in productivity tools, this development shows how flexible and collaborative AI can become in everyday work environments.

Inspired by

• https://www.computerworld.com/article/4063082/asana-puts-ai-teammate-agents-to-work.html

Sources

• gmpg.org
• asana.com
• asbpe.org
• eddie-ozzie.com
• podigee.com