Hosted vs. self-built agents: the convenience-control tradeoff
The author argues that Muse, Grok Bot and Dots remove setup work but hand account and data control to a company, while a self-built Mac Mini setup gives full control at the cost of complexity, and most users will pick convenience.
This tradeoff is not new and has been long standing before AI. You have to choose between convenience and control (customization, data privacy, etc.). AI agents like Muse and Grok Bot and Dots abstract away all the complexities of setting up your own agent (the computer, the connection, the infrastructure, etc.). The tradeoff is that you cede control of your accounts and data to an organization that does not necessarily alighn with all your values/goals. On the other hand, you can opt to set up your own Mac Mini (or cloud VM) and run your own agent harness (e.g., OpenClaw, Hermes, Pi). You have to own the complexity and technical difficulties, but you have full control. Most users will choose convenience over control.
This post quotes another post: “Personal agents from Muse, Grok Bot and others aren't really 'mine', user argues”