Y Combinator AI Startup Pivot: Why They Left Windows Agents

AI Agents and the Challenge of Computer Use

A startup, Pig.dev, which was part of the Y Combinator Winter 2025 program, initially focused on developing AI agentic technology designed for controlling a Microsoft Windows desktop environment.

However, in May, the company’s founder announced a significant shift in direction. The original technology was abandoned in favor of Muscle Mem, a novel caching system specifically engineered for AI agents.

The Importance of Browser and Desktop Automation

Pivots are common among early-stage Y Combinator companies. What makes Pig’s change particularly noteworthy – and the subject of discussion on a recent Y Combinator podcast – is that the initial project addressed computer use, a critical area for enabling agents to function effectively in professional settings.

Another company, Browser Use, a fellow Y Combinator graduate, is addressing a similar challenge, but for web browsers. It gained prominence following the viral success of Manus, a Chinese agentic tool that utilized its services.

Browser Use functions by analyzing website buttons and elements, converting them into a more easily processed, text-based format for AI agents. This facilitates the AI’s ability to navigate and interact with websites.

Pig.dev as the "Browser Use for Windows"

During the Y Combinator podcast, partner Tom Blomfield drew a parallel between Pig and Browser Use, positioning Pig as the equivalent solution for Windows desktops.

The podcast also included Amjad Masad, the founder and CEO of Replit, a well-known vibe-coding startup.

Masad, Blomfield, and YC partner David Lieb discussed the ongoing difficulty of achieving sustained computer use – measured in hours rather than minutes – for AI agents. They noted that as the context window for reasoning expands, agent accuracy can decline while the costs associated with Large Language Models (LLMs) increase.

“My recommendation to founders currently is to focus on either Browser Use or Windows automation, like Pig, and apply these technologies to enterprise solutions within specific industries,” Blomfield proposed.

Masad concurred, stating, “The companies that successfully develop this technology are poised for substantial growth.”

Why Pig.dev Pivoted

Unfortunately, Erik Dunteman, the founder of Pig, has already moved away from the initial concept. In a May announcement, he explained his initial plan to offer a cloud API product, a typical delivery method for AI technologies.

However, potential customers expressed no interest in this approach. He then attempted to market it as a developer tool, but this also failed to gain traction.

“What customers in the legacy app automation sector truly desire is to pay for a completed automation,” Dunteman explained. They essentially sought a consultant to implement Windows robotic process automation tailored to their needs.

Dunteman preferred to concentrate on building development tools rather than undertaking individual projects. This led to the abandonment of Pig and the launch of Muscle Mem, an AI caching tool.

He declined to elaborate further on his decision to discontinue Windows automation, though the Pig.dev website and associated GitHub documentation remain accessible.

Muscle Mem: A New Approach to Computer Use

Dunteman clarified that his new tool was directly inspired by the challenges of computer use. It addresses these challenges from a different angle.

Muscle Mem aims to enable agents to offload repetitive tasks, allowing them to concentrate on reasoning through novel problems and handling unique situations.

“Our current work is directly informed by and applicable to computer use, albeit at the developer tooling level. I continue to be optimistic about computer use as the ‘final step’ in agent development,” he shared with TechCrunch.

Ongoing Development in Windows Automation

Despite Pig’s pivot, work on Windows automation continues.

Microsoft is arguably the most advanced in this area. In April, Microsoft announced the integration of computer use technology into Copilot Studio for graphical user interfaces, including Windows. This technology was initially released as a research preview.

Furthermore, earlier this month, Microsoft unveiled an agentic tool within Windows 11 designed to assist users in managing their system settings.