--- title: AI Desktop Actions description: ServiceNow AI Desktop Actions enables you to design, configure, and manage desktop actions that automate repetitive tasks in your desktop and web environment. AI agents can autonomously and semi-autonomously process instructions, generate execution plans, and run desktop actions across legacy systems, thick client applications, and web applications without APIs. locale: en-US canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/intelligent-experiences/agentic-desktop-landing-page.html release: australia topic_type: reference last_updated: "2025-10-12" reading_time_minutes: 5 keywords: [explore, AI agent, AI agent studio, desktop automations, adaptive desktop action, defined desktop action, adaptive path desktop action, defined path desktop action, deterministic desktop action, probabilistic desktop action] breadcrumb: [Enable AI experiences] --- # AI Desktop Actions ServiceNow® AI Desktop Actions enables you to design, configure, and manage desktop actions that automate repetitive tasks in your desktop and web environment. AI agents can autonomously and semi-autonomously process instructions, generate execution plans, and run desktop actions across legacy systems, thick client applications, and web applications without APIs. - Automating multi-step desktop or web tasks that involve conditional logic, so agents can focus on work that needs a human touch. - Adapting to changes in application state and UI in real-time, reducing the need to maintain rigid scripts. - Helping detect and recover from errors by evaluating context and trying alternative approaches when something doesn't go as expected. ## Types of desktop actions There are two types of desktop actions: defined path and adaptive path. Both enable AI agents to automate tasks on behalf of users, but they differ in how steps are designed and executed. - **[Defined desktop actions for desktop and web-based tasks \(deterministic\)](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/intelligent-experiences/desktop-actions.md)** With defined path desktop actions, you record with AIor capture a fixed sequence of steps in the AI Desktop Actions Windows application. The AI agent executes these predefined steps in order without deviation. Best for: Repeatable tasks with consistent steps and predictable UI interactions. - **[Adaptive desktop actions for web-based tasks \(probabilistic\)](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/intelligent-experiences/web-agents-overview.md)** With adaptive path desktop actions, you describe what task you want to accomplish at a high level for desktop and web-based tasks. The desktop tasks include cross-application processes. The web-based tasks include performing tasks on web applications or websites. The AI agent processes the request, generates an execution plan, and dynamically determines the specific steps needed to complete the task. Best for: Tasks that require flexibility, decision-making, or adaptation to changing UI elements. For more information, see [When to use adaptive vs. defined path desktop actions](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/intelligent-experiences/adaptive-vs-fixed-desktop-action.md). ## Get started
| [Explore\[Omitted image "bus-explore.svg"\] Alt text:Learn about AI Desktop Actions concepts and features](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/intelligent-experiences/explore-agentic-desktop.md) | [Configure\[Omitted image "bus-sdlc.svg"\] Alt text:Set up AI Desktop Actions to automate desktop tasks](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/intelligent-experiences/configure-agentic-desktop.md) | [Design\[Omitted image "bus-low-code-dev-tools.svg"\] Alt text:Design automations for legacy applications that do not have APIs](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/intelligent-experiences/desktop-actions-designer-workspace-ad.md) |
| [Create an AI agent\[Omitted image "bus-virtual-agent.svg"\] Alt text:Create your own custom AI agents with advanced multi-agent reasoning frameworks](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/intelligent-experiences/create-ai-agents-ad.md) | [Use \[Omitted image "icon-use-docintel.png"\] Alt text: Use the AI Desktop Actions application to execute automations using AI agents.](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/intelligent-experiences/use-agentic-desktop.md) | [Reference\[Omitted image "bus-learn.svg"\] Alt text:Get details about the AI Desktop Actions properties and components](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/intelligent-experiences/agentic-desktop-reference.md) |