Doubao Unveils New AI Productivity Tools: Remote Phone Control, Virtual Desktops & More

Doubao, the AI assistant, has rolled out a suite of new productivity-focused features aimed at streamlining work and daily tasks. The update includes support for both local and cloud computer modes, remote control via mobile phones, and a Windows-exclusive virtual desktop feature that operates without interfering with users' ongoing activities.

One standout feature is the "Skills" function, which acts like a set of ready-to-use "special moves"—intuitive enough for AI beginners to master quickly. For instance, using the "Performance Analysis" skill with China Mobile prompts Doubao to automatically dissect the company’s 2026 first-half financial report (its latest available data). The results, presented in a clear, layered format, cover key performance summaries, core data interpretations, broker opinions, management signals, and future market focus areas.

Doubao’s skills span a wide range of use cases: creating PPTs, generating financial statements, interpreting announcements, writing short dramas, e-commerce product selection, medical literature searches, code review, and even "de-AI" text refinement. Users can also customize skills by uploading existing ones or building new ones through dialogue, ensuring a personalized experience unique to each user.

Beyond one-off tasks, Doubao handles long-term assignments that would be tedious or impossible for humans. Examples include daily 5 PM briefings on Moutai and Changxin Tech’s stock prices and major market news, or weekly Beijing weekend travel plans delivered every Friday.

Another key addition is the "Connector" feature, which links Doubao to mainstream apps, allowing AI to execute tasks across platforms. After authorization, users can control multiple apps (like Didi for rides or Taobao for shopping) through Doubao alone. For example, it can gather materials from one app and send it to another for video editing. Connecting apps like DingTalk or Tianyancha is simple—just input the app’s API key. During testing, the author successfully used Doubao to access Tianyancha’s VIP features (requires an active VIP subscription) to check a company’s equity structure.

If an app’s API key isn’t available, Doubao can still help: it can automatically identify, download, and use necessary tools. For example, when asked to convert a "Water Margin" TXT file to Kindle-compatible mobi format, Doubao downloaded Calibre (an e-book management tool) to complete the task. It even cleans up temporary files after execution to free up computer resources.

The mobile remote control feature is a highlight of the update. Once authorized with the same account, users can send commands from their phone, and the connected computer will execute tasks (like deleting a folder named "111" to the recycle bin) in real time, with progress and results sent back to the phone. This is ideal for scenarios like commuting—users can start a PPT task on their work computer while on the go.

Windows users get an exclusive virtual desktop feature that runs independently of their current operations. They can monitor Doubao’s progress, pause, or take over tasks at any time. For example, a 30-minute task to create a 2026 Mid-Autumn Festival greeting webpage (with a feature to count the most frequent blessing words) allowed the user to play games or watch videos while Doubao worked.

Overall, Doubao’s new features are impressive—able to handle almost any task as long as the user can clearly express their needs. A user commented on the Doubao official WeChat account: "I haven’t studied physics in 12 years, but I managed to build an AI chatbot using Doubao."

Sources

• Wu Tong. "Doubao's New Features: Remote Control Your Computer via Phone to Get Work Done". China News Service. August 20, 2026. https://www.chinanews.com.cn/cj/2026/08-20/10681162.shtml