← Concept IndexDEFINITION WHY IT MATTERS COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
Computer and browser use
Also called: computer use, browser agents, operating the screen
Giving an agent the ability to operate a computer the way a person would — reading the screen, moving the cursor, clicking, typing, and navigating a browser — so it can use software that has no dedicated tool or API.
It widens what an agent can reach enormously, and widens the risk with it: anything visible, including a web page or document, can carry instructions, and the agent acts with the user's full access. It's the strongest case for narrow permissions and approval on consequential actions.
A defined tool call. A scoped tool does exactly one thing; a computer-using agent can do anything the logged-in user can — a far larger blast radius.