A working colleague in minutes
He isn’t technical. He set it up with Claude Desktop on several Windows computers, and within minutes it was working.
What it took: Windows · Claude Desktop
Who uses it
Setups that run today, and ideas the pieces already support.
Running today
A colleague that is always on
A non-technical owner works with it every day, in plain language. It runs around the clock, keeps track of what is open and what is due, and takes repetitive work off the owner’s desk.
What it took: Brain + Engine + Fleet
Listings, buyers, follow-ups
It wrote the listings from photos, suggested prices, answered buyers by my rules and checked the messages every morning. I only packed and met the buyers.
What it took: Brain + Engine · a browser
It tells me when to book
It planned the whole route by my rules, then checked prices every day on the server and messaged me on Telegram when it was worth booking.
What it took: Brain + Engine + Fleet
How we run it ourselves
Eight run around the clock on four small servers: for us, for a small family business, and for people we work with. One sends the morning message and answers on Telegram. Some write code; others test and merge it, so no agent merges its own code. More run on a laptop, each on its own job. If one goes quiet, another checks why and brings it back.
See the setupWhat it took: Brain + Engine + Fleet · four small servers
It waits for your yes
Before an email, an invite or a shared file goes out, it shows you exactly what and to whom on Telegram, and sends only after you say yes.
What it took: Brain + Fleet · Telegram
Kept open until closed
It gathered the receipts, sent the request and kept the case on its list. The always-on colleague took it over and showed it in every weekly review until it closed.
What it took: Brain + Engine + Fleet
His own assistant before lunch
A short interview, a first note, and a check in a fresh session that it remembered him. Then an email so he could continue on his own.
What it took: Brain · his own computer
Picks up where others stopped
It read the folder, listed the old rules it would not follow, and left the unsaved work alone until asked.
What it took: Brain · an existing folder
A voice note, done
I record a message while walking. It transcribes it and does what was in it.
What it took: Brain + Fleet · Telegram
Work at night, summary at breakfast
Before bed I say what to build. It follows the agreed process, every change goes through review and the gates, and in the morning it says what is done and what it needs from me.
What it took: Brain + Fleet
A finance colleague, weekly close
A separate colleague updates the books from bank statements, runs a short close with me every week, and keeps the open questions until I answer them.
What it took: Brain + Engine
Customer story coming soon
We will add it once the customer has agreed.
Ideas to try
Each one uses only what Mentat does today.
Every client, every deadline
After a client call, dictate everything that comes to mind. It sorts it into todos, cases and decisions for that client. Each morning it lists what is due, and before a tough meeting it calls in a negotiator persona to prepare you.
What it would take: Brain + Engine · your computer
An old laptop as an always-on server
Put Linux on the laptop in the drawer, and the Fleet keeps your colleague running there all day. It messages you on Telegram when something needs a person.
What it would take: Fleet + Engine · a spare laptop
Help with a parent’s computer
On their computer, it walks them through the small things as often as they need, such as where a file went or how to attach a photo. It remembers what it explained last time.
What it would take: Claude Desktop · their computer
Ready? It is three lines.
Install