Astropad Workbench brings AI agent management to iPad and iPhone

Astropad has officially launched Astropad Workbench, a remote desktop platform engineered specifically for the AI era. Announced Tuesday by CEO Matt Ronge, the software targets users running autonomous AI agents on Mac hardware, providing a dedicated interface to monitor logs, manage outputs, and troubleshoot tasks remotely.

The rise of autonomous agents has turned devices like the Mac Mini into essential experimental platforms. However, Ronge noted that existing remote desktop solutions—such as Jump Desktop or Parsec—are built for enterprise IT support rather than the unique, rapid-response needs of AI developers. Workbench fills this gap by allowing users to interact with their Macs via iPad or iPhone, offering a “pocketable” control center for headless setups.

Key Features and Functionality

• LIQUID Protocol: Utilizes Astropad’s proprietary, low-latency display technology to maintain high-fidelity streaming at Retina resolutions.
• Voice Integration: Features an integrated voice model allowing users to dictate prompts and commands directly to their AI agents.
• Multi-Device Management: Includes a device chooser for users managing AI agents across several Mac computers.
• Flexible Input: Supports touch, Apple Pencil, and keyboard inputs for granular control.

Ronge explained that the development was born from internal necessity at Astropad. “We have heavily adopted AI at Astropad, and we’ve been using agents. And sometimes, you have an agent running on a long task, and you want to check on it,” he stated. “There were existing remote desktop tools, but nothing built specifically for this. There have also been ways where you can use a terminal, or there are things like Telegram chats, but they’re limited.”

The software is currently available for devices running macOS 15 and iOS 26 or later. While the team plans to expand support to Windows and Linux, the current offering provides a free tier with 20 minutes of daily access, with unlimited usage priced at $10 per month or $50 annually.

With over 100,000 existing customers, Astropad is positioning Workbench to appeal to both individual AI enthusiasts and enterprise clients. Ronge remains optimistic about the product’s business trajectory, noting, “I totally think businesses are gonna buy it. I mean, just the productivity gains I’m seeing from it myself—this is totally headed to businesses. It’s just too powerful.”