A practical field guide from Automation Ace.
Short answer: Sidekick by Zapier is Zapier's AI workspace: a place where you describe work in plain language and the AI uses your connected apps to get it done, such as sending a message, updating a record, or pulling information together. It keeps a personal space with your conversations, files, and preferences, remembers past work, and can be taught repeatable skills that you can share with your team. At the time of writing it was in closed beta, with access through a waitlist.
Short answer
- What: an AI workspace built on Zapier's app connections.
- Does: takes actions in your apps from plain-language requests.
- Remembers: conversations, notes, and documents, so it can build on past work.
- Learns: through skills you create and share.
- Status: closed beta at the time of writing; features and naming may change.
What Sidekick is
Most AI assistants are good at answering and drafting but stop at the edge of the chat window. Zapier has spent years connecting apps, so its AI workspace starts from the other side: it already knows how to reach the tools you use. According to Zapier's help center, you describe the task and the workspace works out which apps and actions it needs. Zapier's help article refers to it as Zapier's AI workspace, and the product site uses the name Sidekick.
The main parts
| Part | What it is | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Chat-style requests | Describe a task in plain language | No need to design a workflow first |
| Connected apps | Your Zapier app connections, such as calendar, Slack, or a project tool | It can act in your apps, not just answer questions |
| Actions | Things like sending messages or updating records, depending on connected apps | Work gets done, not just drafted |
| Personal space | Where your conversations, files, and preferences live | A home base for your own work |
| Memory | Past conversations, notes, and documents it can refer back to | Less re-explaining every time |
| Skills | Instructions you write to teach it how you want something done | Consistent results for repeat tasks |
| Shared spaces | A way to share skills with your team | Team-wide standards instead of personal prompts |
Skills and memory are covered in depth in Zapier Sidekick skills and memory.
How it works
- Connect apps in Zapier, such as Google Calendar, Slack, or Jira.
- Open the AI workspace from Zapier (Zapier's help center describes it in the left sidebar).
- Describe the task in plain language.
- It plans and acts using the apps and actions available to it.
- Review the result and refine, or save the approach as a skill for next time.
What you can use it for
| Use case | Example request |
|---|---|
| Meeting prep | “Brief me on tomorrow's client calls using my calendar and recent emails.” |
| Status updates | “Summarize what changed in the project board this week and post it to #team.” |
| Follow-ups | “Draft follow-ups for everyone I met with today and create tasks for my action items.” |
| Quick record updates | “Mark the Acme deal as proposal sent and add a note.” |
| Recurring work | A saved skill for your weekly report, run the same way every time |
For turning those requests into dependable routines, see from prompts to processes with Zapier Sidekick.
How it fits with Zaps, Agents, and MCP
- Zaps run fixed workflows automatically on triggers.
- Zapier Agents are AI teammates set up to pursue goals, often running on their own.
- Zapier MCP lets outside AI assistants, such as ChatGPT or Claude, use Zapier actions.
- Sidekick is the workspace where you work alongside AI directly inside Zapier.
See Sidekick vs ChatGPT vs Zapier Agents and Zapier Agents vs Zapier MCP vs AI by Zapier.
Getting started
- You need a Zapier account (Zapier's help center says any plan) and accounts for the apps you want to connect.
- While it is in closed beta, request access through Zapier's waitlist.
- Start with a low-risk, read-heavy task such as meeting prep or a weekly summary.
Good habits from day one
- Review actions that send messages or change records until you trust the results.
- Connect only the apps you need, with appropriate permissions; Zapier also offers admin controls for app access and actions on supported plans.
- Turn repeat requests into skills so results stay consistent.
- Keep sensitive data out unless your organization has approved it.
- Move high-volume, fixed work to Zaps; they are cheaper and more predictable for that job.
For the bigger picture, read beyond Zaps: how Sidekick is turning automation into an AI-powered workspace. New to Zapier? Start with a Zapier account.
Frequently asked questions
What is Sidekick by Zapier?
Sidekick by Zapier is Zapier’s AI workspace. You describe a task in plain language and it uses your connected apps to get the work done, such as sending messages or updating records. It keeps your conversations, files, and preferences, remembers past work, and can be taught skills that can be shared with your team.
Is Zapier Sidekick available to everyone?
At the time of writing, Zapier’s AI workspace was in closed beta with access through a waitlist. Check Zapier’s help center for current availability.
What do I need to use Zapier Sidekick?
According to Zapier’s help center, you need a Zapier account on any plan and accounts for the apps you want it to use, such as Google Calendar, Slack, or Jira.
What can Zapier Sidekick do?
It can work across your connected apps to prepare for meetings, summarize updates, draft follow-ups, update records, and repeat tasks the same way through skills, depending on which apps and actions you connect.
How is Sidekick different from a Zap?
A Zap runs a fixed workflow automatically when a trigger happens. Sidekick is a workspace where you ask for work in plain language and the AI decides which apps and actions to use. Many teams use both: Sidekick for flexible work and Zaps for high-volume, predictable work.
Disclaimer: Sidekick by Zapier (Zapier's AI workspace) was in closed beta at the time of writing, with access through a waitlist; names, features, availability, and limits may change, so confirm current details in Zapier's help center. This article may include links to apps, products, or services; some links may be affiliate links, which means Automation Ace may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.