fix(copilot): update homepage copy to focus on problem discovery (#11956)

## Summary
Update the CoPilot homepage to shift from "what do you want to
automate?" to "tell me about your problems." This lowers the barrier to
engagement by letting users describe their work frustrations instead of
requiring them to identify automations themselves.

## Changes
| Element | Before | After |
|---------|--------|-------|
| Headline | "What do you want to automate?" | "Tell me about your work
— I'll find what to automate." |
| Placeholder | "You can search or just ask - e.g. 'create a blog post
outline'" | "What's your role and what eats up most of your day? e.g.
'I'm a real estate agent and I hate...'" |
| Button 1 | "Show me what I can automate" | "I don't know where to
start, just ask me stuff" |
| Button 2 | "Design a custom workflow" | "I do the same thing every
week and it's killing me" |
| Button 3 | "Help me with content creation" | "Help me find where I'm
wasting my time" |
| Container | max-w-2xl | max-w-3xl |

> **Note on container width:** The `max-w-2xl` → `max-w-3xl` change is
just to keep the longer headline on one line. This works but may not be
the ideal solution — @lluis-xai should advise on the proper approach.

## Why This Matters
The current UX assumes users know what they want to automate. In
reality, most users know what frustrates them but can't identify
automations. The current screen blocks Otto from starting the discovery
conversation that leads to useful recommendations.

## Files Changed
- `autogpt_platform/frontend/src/app/(platform)/copilot/page.tsx` —
headline, placeholder, container width
- `autogpt_platform/frontend/src/app/(platform)/copilot/helpers.ts` —
quick action button text

Resolves: [SECRT-1876](https://linear.app/autogpt/issue/SECRT-1876)

---------

Co-authored-by: Lluis Agusti <hi@llu.lu>

autogpt_platform/backend/backend/blocks/encoder_block.py

@@ -1,77 +0,0 @@
-"""Text encoding block for converting special characters to escape sequences."""
-
-import codecs
-
-from backend.data.block import (
-    Block,
-    BlockCategory,
-    BlockOutput,
-    BlockSchemaInput,
-    BlockSchemaOutput,
-)
-from backend.data.model import SchemaField
-
-
-class TextEncoderBlock(Block):
-    """
-    Encodes a string by converting special characters into escape sequences.
-
-    This block is the inverse of TextDecoderBlock. It takes text containing
-    special characters (like newlines, tabs, etc.) and converts them into
-    their escape sequence representations (e.g., newline becomes \\n).
-    """
-
-    class Input(BlockSchemaInput):
-        """Input schema for TextEncoderBlock."""
-
-        text: str = SchemaField(
-            description="A string containing special characters to be encoded",
-            placeholder="Your text with newlines and quotes to encode",
-        )
-
-    class Output(BlockSchemaOutput):
-        """Output schema for TextEncoderBlock."""
-
-        encoded_text: str = SchemaField(
-            description="The encoded text with special characters converted to escape sequences"
-        )
-        error: str = SchemaField(description="Error message if encoding fails")
-
-    def __init__(self):
-        super().__init__(
-            id="5185f32e-4b65-4ecf-8fbb-873f003f09d6",
-            description="Encodes a string by converting special characters into escape sequences",
-            categories={BlockCategory.TEXT},
-            input_schema=TextEncoderBlock.Input,
-            output_schema=TextEncoderBlock.Output,
-            test_input={
-                "text": """Hello
-World!
-This is a "quoted" string."""
-            },
-            test_output=[
-                (
-                    "encoded_text",
-                    """Hello\\nWorld!\\nThis is a "quoted" string.""",
-                )
-            ],
-        )
-
-    async def run(self, input_data: Input, **kwargs) -> BlockOutput:
-        """
-        Encode the input text by converting special characters to escape sequences.
-
-        Args:
-            input_data: The input containing the text to encode.
-            **kwargs: Additional keyword arguments (unused).
-
-        Yields:
-            The encoded text with escape sequences, or an error message if encoding fails.
-        """
-        try:
-            encoded_text = codecs.encode(input_data.text, "unicode_escape").decode(
-                "utf-8"
-            )
-            yield "encoded_text", encoded_text
-        except Exception as e:
-            yield "error", f"Encoding error: {str(e)}"

autogpt_platform/backend/backend/blocks/test/test_text_encoder.py

@@ -1,77 +0,0 @@
-import pytest
-
-from backend.blocks.encoder_block import TextEncoderBlock
-
-
-@pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_text_encoder_basic():
-    """Test basic encoding of newlines and special characters."""
-    block = TextEncoderBlock()
-    result = []
-    async for output in block.run(TextEncoderBlock.Input(text="Hello\nWorld")):
-        result.append(output)
-
-    assert len(result) == 1
-    assert result[0][0] == "encoded_text"
-    assert result[0][1] == "Hello\\nWorld"
-
-
-@pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_text_encoder_multiple_escapes():
-    """Test encoding of multiple escape sequences."""
-    block = TextEncoderBlock()
-    result = []
-    async for output in block.run(
-        TextEncoderBlock.Input(text="Line1\nLine2\tTabbed\rCarriage")
-    ):
-        result.append(output)
-
-    assert len(result) == 1
-    assert result[0][0] == "encoded_text"
-    assert "\\n" in result[0][1]
-    assert "\\t" in result[0][1]
-    assert "\\r" in result[0][1]
-
-
-@pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_text_encoder_unicode():
-    """Test that unicode characters are handled correctly."""
-    block = TextEncoderBlock()
-    result = []
-    async for output in block.run(TextEncoderBlock.Input(text="Hello 世界\n")):
-        result.append(output)
-
-    assert len(result) == 1
-    assert result[0][0] == "encoded_text"
-    # Unicode characters should be escaped as \uXXXX sequences
-    assert "\\n" in result[0][1]
-
-
-@pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_text_encoder_empty_string():
-    """Test encoding of an empty string."""
-    block = TextEncoderBlock()
-    result = []
-    async for output in block.run(TextEncoderBlock.Input(text="")):
-        result.append(output)
-
-    assert len(result) == 1
-    assert result[0][0] == "encoded_text"
-    assert result[0][1] == ""
-
-
-@pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_text_encoder_error_handling():
-    """Test that encoding errors are handled gracefully."""
-    from unittest.mock import patch
-
-    block = TextEncoderBlock()
-    result = []
-
-    with patch("codecs.encode", side_effect=Exception("Mocked encoding error")):
-        async for output in block.run(TextEncoderBlock.Input(text="test")):
-            result.append(output)
-
-    assert len(result) == 1
-    assert result[0][0] == "error"
-    assert "Mocked encoding error" in result[0][1]

autogpt_platform/frontend/src/app/(platform)/copilot/helpers.ts

@@ -26,8 +26,20 @@ export function buildCopilotChatUrl(prompt: string): string {
 
 export function getQuickActions(): string[] {
   return [
-    "Show me what I can automate",
-    "Design a custom workflow",
-    "Help me with content creation",
+    "I don't know where to start, just ask me stuff",
+    "I do the same thing every week and it's killing me",
+    "Help me find where I'm wasting my time",
   ];
 }
+
+export function getInputPlaceholder(width?: number) {
+  if (!width) return "What's your role and what eats up most of your day?";
+
+  if (width < 500) {
+    return "I'm a chef and I hate...";
+  }
+  if (width <= 1080) {
+    return "What's your role and what eats up most of your day?";
+  }
+  return "What's your role and what eats up most of your day? e.g. 'I'm a recruiter and I hate...'";
+}

autogpt_platform/frontend/src/app/(platform)/copilot/page.tsx

@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@ import { Text } from "@/components/atoms/Text/Text";
 import { Chat } from "@/components/contextual/Chat/Chat";
 import { ChatInput } from "@/components/contextual/Chat/components/ChatInput/ChatInput";
 import { Dialog } from "@/components/molecules/Dialog/Dialog";
+import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
 import { useCopilotStore } from "./copilot-page-store";
+import { getInputPlaceholder } from "./helpers";
 import { useCopilotPage } from "./useCopilotPage";
 
 export default function CopilotPage() {
@@ -14,8 +16,25 @@ export default function CopilotPage() {
   const isInterruptModalOpen = useCopilotStore((s) => s.isInterruptModalOpen);
   const confirmInterrupt = useCopilotStore((s) => s.confirmInterrupt);
   const cancelInterrupt = useCopilotStore((s) => s.cancelInterrupt);
+
+  const [inputPlaceholder, setInputPlaceholder] = useState(
+    getInputPlaceholder(),
+  );
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const handleResize = () => {
+      setInputPlaceholder(getInputPlaceholder(window.innerWidth));
+    };
+
+    handleResize();
+
+    window.addEventListener("resize", handleResize);
+    return () => window.removeEventListener("resize", handleResize);
+  }, []);
+
   const { greetingName, quickActions, isLoading, hasSession, initialPrompt } =
     state;
+
   const {
     handleQuickAction,
     startChatWithPrompt,
@@ -73,7 +92,7 @@ export default function CopilotPage() {
   }
 
   return (
-    <div className="flex h-full flex-1 items-center justify-center overflow-y-auto bg-[#f8f8f9] px-6 py-10">
+    <div className="flex h-full flex-1 items-center justify-center overflow-y-auto bg-[#f8f8f9] px-3 py-5 md:px-6 md:py-10">
       <div className="w-full text-center">
         {isLoading ? (
           <div className="mx-auto max-w-2xl">
@@ -90,25 +109,25 @@ export default function CopilotPage() {
           </div>
         ) : (
           <>
-            <div className="mx-auto max-w-2xl">
+            <div className="mx-auto max-w-3xl">
               <Text
                 variant="h3"
-                className="mb-3 !text-[1.375rem] text-zinc-700"
+                className="mb-1 !text-[1.375rem] text-zinc-700"
               >
                 Hey, <span className="text-violet-600">{greetingName}</span>
               </Text>
               <Text variant="h3" className="mb-8 !font-normal">
-                What do you want to automate?
+                Tell me about your work — I&apos;ll find what to automate.
               </Text>
 
               <div className="mb-6">
                 <ChatInput
                   onSend={startChatWithPrompt}
-                  placeholder='You can search or just ask - e.g. "create a blog post outline"'
+                  placeholder={inputPlaceholder}
                 />
               </div>
             </div>
-            <div className="flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-center gap-3 overflow-x-auto [-ms-overflow-style:none] [scrollbar-width:none] [&::-webkit-scrollbar]:hidden">
+            <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-center gap-3 overflow-x-auto [-ms-overflow-style:none] [scrollbar-width:none] [&::-webkit-scrollbar]:hidden">
               {quickActions.map((action) => (
                 <Button
                   key={action}
@@ -116,7 +135,7 @@ export default function CopilotPage() {
                   variant="outline"
                   size="small"
                   onClick={() => handleQuickAction(action)}
-                  className="h-auto shrink-0 border-zinc-600 !px-4 !py-2 text-[1rem] text-zinc-600"
+                  className="h-auto shrink-0 border-zinc-300 px-3 py-2 text-[.9rem] text-zinc-600"
                 >
                   {action}
                 </Button>

autogpt_platform/frontend/src/components/contextual/Chat/components/ChatContainer/ChatContainer.tsx

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import type { SessionDetailResponse } from "@/app/api/__generated__/models/sessi
 import { Button } from "@/components/atoms/Button/Button";
 import { Text } from "@/components/atoms/Text/Text";
 import { Dialog } from "@/components/molecules/Dialog/Dialog";
-import { useBreakpoint } from "@/lib/hooks/useBreakpoint";
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
 import { GlobeHemisphereEastIcon } from "@phosphor-icons/react";
 import { useEffect } from "react";
@@ -56,10 +55,6 @@ export function ChatContainer({
     onStreamingChange?.(isStreaming);
   }, [isStreaming, onStreamingChange]);
 
-  const breakpoint = useBreakpoint();
-  const isMobile =
-    breakpoint === "base" || breakpoint === "sm" || breakpoint === "md";
-
   return (
     <div
       className={cn(
@@ -127,11 +122,7 @@ export function ChatContainer({
           disabled={isStreaming || !sessionId}
           isStreaming={isStreaming}
           onStop={stopStreaming}
-          placeholder={
-            isMobile
-              ? "You can search or just ask"
-              : 'You can search or just ask — e.g. "create a blog post outline"'
-          }
+          placeholder="What else can I help with?"
         />
       </div>
     </div>

autogpt_platform/frontend/src/components/contextual/Chat/components/ChatInput/ChatInput.tsx

@@ -74,19 +74,20 @@ export function ChatInput({
             hasMultipleLines ? "rounded-xlarge" : "rounded-full",
           )}
         >
+          {!value && !isRecording && (
+            <div
+              className="pointer-events-none absolute inset-0 top-0.5 flex items-center justify-start pl-14 text-[1rem] text-zinc-400"
+              aria-hidden="true"
+            >
+              {isTranscribing ? "Transcribing..." : placeholder}
+            </div>
+          )}
           <textarea
             id={inputId}
             aria-label="Chat message input"
             value={value}
             onChange={handleChange}
             onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}
-            placeholder={
-              isTranscribing
-                ? "Transcribing..."
-                : isRecording
-                  ? ""
-                  : placeholder
-            }
             disabled={isInputDisabled}
             rows={1}
             className={cn(
@@ -122,13 +123,14 @@ export function ChatInput({
               size="icon"
               aria-label={isRecording ? "Stop recording" : "Start recording"}
               onClick={toggleRecording}
-              disabled={disabled || isTranscribing}
+              disabled={disabled || isTranscribing || isStreaming}
               className={cn(
                 isRecording
                   ? "animate-pulse border-red-500 bg-red-500 text-white hover:border-red-600 hover:bg-red-600"
                   : isTranscribing
                     ? "border-zinc-300 bg-zinc-100 text-zinc-400"
                     : "border-zinc-300 bg-white text-zinc-500 hover:border-zinc-400 hover:bg-zinc-50 hover:text-zinc-700",
+                isStreaming && "opacity-40",
               )}
             >
               {isTranscribing ? (

autogpt_platform/frontend/src/components/contextual/Chat/components/ChatInput/components/AudioWaveform.tsx

@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ export function AudioWaveform({
     // Create audio context and analyser
     const audioContext = new AudioContext();
     const analyser = audioContext.createAnalyser();
-    analyser.fftSize = 512;
-    analyser.smoothingTimeConstant = 0.8;
+    analyser.fftSize = 256;
+    analyser.smoothingTimeConstant = 0.3;
 
     // Connect the stream to the analyser
     const source = audioContext.createMediaStreamSource(stream);
@@ -73,10 +73,11 @@ export function AudioWaveform({
           maxAmplitude = Math.max(maxAmplitude, amplitude);
         }
 
-        // Map amplitude (0-128) to bar height
-        const normalized = (maxAmplitude / 128) * 255;
-        const height =
-          minBarHeight + (normalized / 255) * (maxBarHeight - minBarHeight);
+        // Normalize amplitude (0-128 range) to 0-1
+        const normalized = maxAmplitude / 128;
+        // Apply sensitivity boost (multiply by 4) and use sqrt curve to amplify quiet sounds
+        const boosted = Math.min(1, Math.sqrt(normalized) * 4);
+        const height = minBarHeight + boosted * (maxBarHeight - minBarHeight);
         newBars.push(height);
       }
 

autogpt_platform/frontend/src/components/contextual/Chat/components/ChatInput/useVoiceRecording.ts

@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ export function useVoiceRecording({
     [value, isTranscribing, toggleRecording, baseHandleKeyDown],
   );
 
-  const showMicButton = isSupported && !isStreaming;
+  const showMicButton = isSupported;
   const isInputDisabled = disabled || isStreaming || isTranscribing;
 
   // Cleanup on unmount

docs/integrations/README.md

@@ -193,7 +193,6 @@ Below is a comprehensive list of all available blocks, categorized by their prim
 | [Get Current Time](block-integrations/text.md#get-current-time) | This block outputs the current time |
 | [Match Text Pattern](block-integrations/text.md#match-text-pattern) | Matches text against a regex pattern and forwards data to positive or negative output based on the match |
 | [Text Decoder](block-integrations/text.md#text-decoder) | Decodes a string containing escape sequences into actual text |
-| [Text Encoder](block-integrations/text.md#text-encoder) | Encodes a string by converting special characters into escape sequences |
 | [Text Replace](block-integrations/text.md#text-replace) | This block is used to replace a text with a new text |
 | [Text Split](block-integrations/text.md#text-split) | This block is used to split a text into a list of strings |
 | [Word Character Count](block-integrations/text.md#word-character-count) | Counts the number of words and characters in a given text |

docs/integrations/block-integrations/text.md

@@ -380,42 +380,6 @@ This is useful when working with data from APIs or files where escape sequences
 
 ---
 
-## Text Encoder
-
-### What it is
-Encodes a string by converting special characters into escape sequences
-
-### How it works
-<!-- MANUAL: how_it_works -->
-The Text Encoder takes the input string and applies Python's `unicode_escape` encoding (equivalent to `codecs.encode(text, "unicode_escape").decode("utf-8")`) to transform special characters like newlines, tabs, and backslashes into their escaped forms.
-
-The block relies on the input schema to ensure the value is a string; non-string inputs are rejected by validation, and any encoding failures surface as block errors. Non-ASCII characters are emitted as `\uXXXX` sequences, which is useful for ASCII-only payloads.
-<!-- END MANUAL -->
-
-### Inputs
-
-| Input | Description | Type | Required |
-|-------|-------------|------|----------|
-| text | A string containing special characters to be encoded | str | Yes |
-
-### Outputs
-
-| Output | Description | Type |
-|--------|-------------|------|
-| error | Error message if encoding fails | str |
-| encoded_text | The encoded text with special characters converted to escape sequences | str |
-
-### Possible use case
-<!-- MANUAL: use_case -->
-**JSON Payload Preparation**: Encode multiline or quoted text before embedding it in JSON string fields to ensure proper escaping.
-
-**Config/ENV Generation**: Convert template text into escaped strings for `.env` or YAML values that require special character handling.
-
-**Snapshot Fixtures**: Produce stable escaped strings for golden files or API tests where consistent text representation is needed.
-<!-- END MANUAL -->
-
----
-
 ## Text Replace
 
 ### What it is