Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about agent systems, how we build them, and what to expect.
What exactly is an 'agent system'?
An agent system is a custom-built AI that takes action on your behalf. Unlike chatbots that answer questions, agent systems manage your calendar, run research, draft follow-ups, make decisions within rules you define, and learn your preferences over time. Think of it as a digital chief of staff that works 24/7.
How is this different from ChatGPT, Copilot, or other AI tools?
ChatGPT is a tool you use. An agent system is a system that works for you. It has persistent memory of your preferences, connects to your calendar and email, follows governance rules you set, and acts proactively without waiting for prompts. It doesn't need a prompt to start working.
What does 'constitutional governance' mean?
Constitutional governance means your agent system operates within defined rules and boundaries, like a constitution for AI behavior. Each domain expert has its own constitution that defines what it can and cannot do, how it handles sensitive data, and when it should escalate to you. This provides autonomous operation with built-in oversight.
Is my data safe?
Yes. Picture Lock uses a tiered privacy architecture. Public data can flow through cloud APIs. Private data is processed with additional safeguards. Sensitive and secret data stays on local infrastructure and never touches external services. Your agent system enforces these tiers automatically based on content classification.
How long does it take to get up and running?
OpenClaw setup takes about 2 weeks. OpenClaw Vault with custom experts and privacy architecture takes 4-6 weeks. Fleet deployments with deep customization take 6-8 weeks. You participate in a focused discovery session at the start, but the build is on us.
What does it cost?
Three tiers, all one-time setup fees. OpenClaw at $7.5K gets you the open-source agent framework with basic integrations. OpenClaw Vault at $25K adds 5 custom expert agents, privacy architecture that keeps sensitive data local, and a personalization layer trained on your context. OpenClaw Fleet at $50K+ deploys 25 custom expert agents with deep customization and founder-direct build. Ongoing maintenance is negotiated separately. Every engagement starts with a free discovery call.
What's the difference between OpenClaw and OpenClaw Vault?
OpenClaw gives you the open-source agent framework: email, text, calendar, single-domain assistant, all cloud-hosted. The Vault wraps that framework with a privacy and personalization layer. Sensitive data stays on your infrastructure. You get 5 custom expert agents including coaching, constitutional governance that enforces rules automatically, persistent memory across conversations, and daily briefings. The privacy architecture is the key difference. Standard frameworks route everything through cloud APIs. The Vault keeps your financial data, coaching sessions, and strategic plans local.
Can I see a working demo?
Yes. Henry, our AI Chief of Staff, is a production agent system that runs daily. It handles calendar management, research, reporting, diary, and proactive briefings across 5 domain experts. You can try an interactive demo on our website that shows how a real agent system works.
What integrations do you support?
Agent systems connect to your existing tools. Common integrations include Google Calendar, email (Gmail/Outlook), Slack, iMessage, document stores, CRMs, web search, and custom APIs. We build integrations based on your workflow during discovery.
Do I need to be technical?
No. Agent systems are designed for operators, executives, and founders who want to scale their operations without scaling headcount. The discovery process focuses on understanding how you work, not on technical specs. We handle all the technical build.
How is Picture Lock Studios different from hiring a dev team or using an AI platform?
Hiring a dev team costs $50-150K and takes 6+ months with no domain expertise. AI platforms give you generic tools that still require your time. Picture Lock combines 15+ years of creative direction with production-grade agent system engineering. We know what works because we've directed campaigns, strategy, and agent systems across the full arc. We built our own system first, then started building for others.
What happens after the system is built?
Your agent system runs continuously and learns from your feedback. Ongoing maintenance covers expert tuning, capability upgrades, and monitoring. When we ship new capabilities, they ship to you. Vault and Fleet clients get proactive optimization as part of their maintenance agreement.
Can an agent system work for a team, not just an individual?
Yes. Premium enterprise engagements include team-wide deployment with role-based access, shared context, and coordinated multi-agent systems. This is ideal for executive teams, operations groups, or small companies that want organization-wide agent support.
What's the relationship between creative and agent systems?
They're the same discipline applied to different mediums. Creative direction is about controlling the vision, coordinating specialists, and making decisions that keep everything aligned. That's exactly what directing agent systems requires: routing, governance, memory architecture, compliance. Picture Lock Studios was founded on 15+ years of documentary filmmaking and brand campaigns. Agent systems are the new medium, but the directorial rigor is the same.
Still have questions?
We're happy to talk. No commitment, no pitch deck.