For developers, no-code devs, automation professionals looking to streamline their workflows, AI automation offers practical solutions to reduce repetitive tasks. Alice is a native AI automation app that works with Windows, Mac, and Linux, designed to connect language models with automation platforms like Make, n8n, and Zapier.

How Alice Works as an AI Automation Tool

Alice functions as a bridge between natural language processing and API integrations. The app uses a webhook-based architecture to transform conversational inputs into structured data outputs that can trigger automations.

When you input a command like "Meeting with Jane tomorrow at 10 AM," the underlying process follows this flow:

1. The AI parses your text input

2. A predefined prompt (called a "Skill") extracts key parameters

3. The app generates a structured JSON object containing these parameters

4. This JSON is sent to your configured webhook

5. The webhook triggers the appropriate automation in Make, Zapier, or n8n

6. Any response from the automation is processed and displayed in the app

This approach eliminates the need to switch between multiple interfaces to accomplish tasks that span different applications.

The Technical Foundation

At its core, Alice implements a prompt-based JSON extraction system. For example, a simple task creation prompt might look like:

The resulting JSON would then be passed to an automation platform through a webhook URL that you configure in the app.

Integration Capabilities

Alice connects with automation platforms through standard HTTP requests, allowing for integration with:

• Make (formerly Integromat): For multi-step workflows with conditional logic

• Zapier: For connecting with 3000+ applications without writing code

• n8n: For self-hosted automation workflows with advanced features

The app also supports:

• Custom API endpoints

• Backend services

• Database integrations

• Knowledge bases

Implementation Examples

Task Management Integration

This JSON payload can trigger a Make scenario that creates a task in your preferred task management system.

CRM Integration

By connecting Alice to a HubSpot workflow in Zapier, you can query customer data with natural language:

The AI extracts the customer name and time period, sends it to Zapier, which pulls the data from HubSpot and returns it to Alice for display.

AI Model Support

The app supports multiple AI models, allowing you to select the appropriate model based on your specific requirements:

• OpenAI models (GPT-4o, GPT-4)

• Anthropic models (Claude)

• Local models via API

• Much more modern models like Grok, Ollama

This flexibility lets you balance performance, cost, and privacy considerations.

Getting Started with Alice

Alice is available for testing without cost. The implementation requires:

1. Installing the native application

2. Setting up your preferred AI model API key

3. Creating automation workflows in Make, n8n, or Zapier

4. Configuring webhook connections in Alice

5. Setting up Skills (prompts) for your specific needs

Technical Considerations

When implementing Alice for your workflow:

• Consider token limits of your chosen AI model for complex instructions

• Structure your prompts to encourage consistent JSON outputs

• Implement error handling in your automation workflows

• Use test webhooks to validate data formats before full implementation

Conclusion

Alice provides a practical solution for developers and technical professionals who want to leverage AI to streamline interactions with automation platforms. By connecting natural language processing with APIs and webhooks, it eliminates friction in executing cross-platform workflows.

The app's architecture makes it suitable for both personal productivity enhancement and enterprise integration scenarios where reducing context switching and simplifying complex processes provides tangible benefits.