Problem

Creating a durable Task requires users to define a project, title, goal, context, acceptance criteria, work items, dependencies, and expected outputs before the agent can help.

User impact

The workflow feels like project-management administration instead of an intelligent assistant and creates a high barrier to trying Task mode.

Relevant code

• apps/desktop/src/ui/tasks/NewTaskLanding.tsx
• Task creation payload, validation, and planning actions

Implementation outline

• Make the default flow one natural-language goal plus an optional Project.
• Have Cowork propose the title, plan, dependencies, outputs, and acceptance criteria.
• Present the generated plan for review/editing before execution.
• Move the current detailed graph form under Advanced setup.
• Preserve the prompt/generated plan after validation or runtime failure.
• Clearly separate Create plan from Start task.
• Provide a useful no-project setup state instead of a dead form.

Acceptance criteria

• A user can begin Task creation from one description.
• Existing advanced fields remain available.
• Generated work items and acceptance criteria are editable before execution.
• No Task executes until the user confirms the plan.
• Failed plan generation preserves the original prompt.
• Switching basic/advanced modes preserves entered information.
• Plan and Task terminology is consistent.

Required tests

• Prompt-first happy path.
• Generated-plan editing and confirmation.
• Advanced-mode round trip.
• Failure/retry and missing-project state.
• Keyboard-only completion.