The Joshu user's manual
Learn how to work with your Joshu AI executive assistant, from setup and approvals to texts, calls, email, files, and the desktop apps.
Joshu runs my box
Welcome to Joshu. This manual explains how to work with your companion, the AI assistant that works only for you. You do not need any technical knowledge to use it. Most of the time, you just tell your companion what you want, in your own words, on the channel that is easiest for you.
I run my own box
Welcome to Joshu. The manual explains how to work with your companion, the AI assistant that works only for you. Most of the time, you just tell your companion what you want, in your own words, on the channel that is easiest for you.
The manual is for a box that you run yourself. You install the box on your own server, and you connect it to your own accounts: your domain, your AI keys, and, if you want them, your own Composio, Nylas, and Twilio accounts. To install a box, read the self-host guide first. The manual then explains how to use the box, and each chapter says which of your accounts a feature needs.
- Chapter 1Getting startedSet up your Joshu AI executive assistant with the first login, the four setup steps, your connected accounts, and your phone passphrase.
- Chapter 2Talking to your companionReach your Joshu by text message, phone call, jChat, email, Slack, or Telegram, and see what to expect from each channel.
- Chapter 3Mail, calendar, and meetingsYour Joshu reads your connected mail and calendar, and it schedules meetings for you when you copy it on an email thread.
- Chapter 4Reminders, nudges, and daily briefsYour Joshu keeps you on track with reminders that you ask for, nudges about things that slip, and morning, evening, and weekly briefs.
- Chapter 5Files, search, and memoryYour Joshu keeps its work in plain files that you can open, and you can search everything with File Brain and see what it remembers.
- Chapter 6Sharing your filesLet other people ask questions about a file or a folder through a chat link, email, or Slack, without giving them the files.
- Chapter 7Safety and approvalsYour Joshu reads for you freely, but it asks you by text before it sends email, invites, or posts that other people will see.
- Chapter 8How to use MultiplayerLet your Joshu work with the companions of your team or family, with a team room, a daily stand-up, and limits on what it shares.
- Chapter 9Your desktop appsTake a short tour of the apps on your Joshu desktop, including jWeb, jWhiteboard, Schedules, last30days, Kanban, and jTerm.
- Chapter 10Help and common questionsFix common problems with your Joshu, such as texts or calls with no answer, approvals that do not arrive, mail delays, and a lost password.
Five things to try first
Joshu runs my box
- Text your companion: "What's on my calendar tomorrow?"
- Forward an email to your companion and ask: "What does this person want from me?"
- Ask: "Remind me at 4 pm to call Sam."
- In jChat, say "morning review" to plan your day together.
- Copy your companion on an email to schedule a meeting.
I run my own box
- In jChat, ask: "What's on my calendar tomorrow?"
- Forward an email to your companion and ask: "What does this person want from me?"
- Ask: "Remind me at 4 pm to call Sam."
- In jChat, say "morning review" to plan your day together.
- Copy your companion on an email to schedule a meeting.
The calendar and mail examples need your accounts in the Connectors app, and the email examples need your companion's own mailbox (see Optional services).