Solution · Automation
An AI task board that keeps your directory moving
The Tasks board is a work queue for your AI assistant. You (or a playbook, or a visitor signal) add tasks, optionally scheduled and repeating; your own agent (Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini or any MCP client) claims them, reports progress, asks you questions when it needs a decision, and finishes with a summary of exactly what it changed. Directories.ai doesn’t run tasks in the background itself, so you stay in charge of the agent and the cost.
Work that repeats should be written down once
Most directory upkeep is the same work every week: find new businesses, refresh stale listings, post to social, check the site. create_agent_task takes a scheduled time and a repeat interval (day, week or month), and the next run is queued when one completes.
How a task runs
Every task follows the same lifecycle, and each step is visible to you on the board.
- To do → In progress: the agent claims it with start_agent_task and receives the brief and rules
- Needs you: request_task_input asks you a question instead of guessing
- Done or Failed: complete_agent_task records a summary and a list of changes; fail_agent_task gives the reason
- A task left in progress for two hours returns to To do so nothing gets stuck
Signals become tasks
With visitor tracking installed, events can create work for you. For example, a message sent to an unclaimed listing creates a task proposing a claim invitation. The agent’s inbox (get_agent_inbox) shows what’s due, what’s waiting on you, and suggested work across your directories.
Set up a weekly routine
- 1
Connect your AI assistant
Add https://directories.ai/mcp to Claude, ChatGPT or any MCP client and sign in with OAuth (or paste an organization API key if your client only supports static headers). The assistant can then only reach your own organization’s directories.
- 2
Create the task
Describe the work, pick a playbook if one fits and set it to repeat weekly.
create_agent_tasklist_playbooks - 3
Let your agent pick it up
Ask the assistant to check its inbox and start the next task. It follows the brief and logs progress.
get_agent_inboxstart_agent_taskupdate_agent_task_progress - 4
Review the result
Read the summary and list of changes, answer any questions under Needs you, and undo anything you don’t like.
get_agent_taskcomplete_agent_taskrequest_task_input
Try asking your assistant
- “Every Monday, find 10 new businesses that belong in this directory and queue them for my review.”
- “Check my agent inbox and work through whatever is due.”
- “Each month, refresh the five oldest listings and the FAQs in my top category.”
MCP tools involved
Each of these is a real tool on the Directories.ai MCP server. See the integration guide for the full list.
get_agent_inboxcreate_agent_taskstart_agent_taskcomplete_agent_taskrequest_task_inputlist_agent_tasks
Frequently asked questions
Does Directories.ai run the AI for me?
Tasks are carried out by your own AI client through the MCP server. The Tasks page can also hand a task to Claude Managed Agents using your own Anthropic key. Directories.ai itself does not run tasks in the background.
How do I know what the agent changed?
Every successful write is logged and linked to the task, and each completed task lists its changes. Listing edits keep the previous values so you can undo them.
Can tasks repeat?
Yes. Set scheduled_for and a repeat_interval of day, week or month, and the next run is queued when one completes.
Keep reading
Ready to run your directory with AI?
MCP access is included on the Growth plan. Pay per directory, cancel any time.