Computer Use

Computer Use lets Claude control a virtual computer — take screenshots, move cursor, click, type. Use it when there's no API, not as a first resort.

When to Use

• Automating legacy apps with no API
• Cross-app workflows (copy from A, paste to B, click approve)
• QA/UI testing where you want the agent to drive a real browser
• End-to-end automation mixing web and desktop

When NOT to Use

• Anything that has an API — APIs are 10-100× faster and cheaper
• High-frequency tasks — each action is a model call (slow)
• Anything where a failed click has real consequences (payments, deletes) without human in the loop
• Untrusted environments — the agent can be injected via screen content

Tool Shape