New in 2025–2026New 2024Easy read

Computer use

Written by Minh Khang

What is Computer use?

Computer use is an AI agent looking at the screen, clicking, typing and filling in forms like a person, even on sites without an API.

Anthropic introduced it in late 2024, OpenAI launched Operator in early 2025, and browsers began shipping with agents built in. It works where there is no API, but it is slow, breaks when a layout changes, and can be tricked by text hidden in a page.

Computer use in a shop

The agent visits a supplier's site, compares three packaging boxes and fills in the order form; you still press pay.

Sources

The dated facts on this page come from the original sources below.

  1. Anthropic
    Introducing computer use, a new Claude 3.5 Sonnet, and Claude 3.5 Haiku
  2. OpenAI
    Introducing Operator

Keep learning beyond the glossary