5 min read2 days ago

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Would you believe that over 38% of office work tasks in 2025 can now be automated by AI, according to McKinsey’s latest report? Well, I decided to see what that actually looks like — by letting an AI literally take over my computer for an entire day.

Last week, Anthropic launched a groundbreaking feature called Claude Computer Use — and it’s unlike anything we’ve seen before. Imagine an AI that doesn’t just talk to you but can see your screen, click buttons, write code, and control your apps in real time.

So, being the curious tech nerd I am, I gave Claude 24 hours of full computer control. Here’s everything that happened — the good, the bad, and the slightly terrifying.

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Photo by Hitesh Choudhary** **on Unsplash

What Is Claude’s Computer Use?

Claude Computer Use is Anthropic’s newest AI automation feature that allows Claude to interact with your computer the same way a human would — visually and physically.

Instead of telling you how to do something, it can just do it. It sees your screen, moves your mouse, clicks buttons, types commands, edits code, fills forms, and navigates between apps — all autonomously.

It’s currently in beta (October 2025) and available to selected developers through the Anthropic API. The goal? To make AI a real digital coworker, not just a chat window.

How I Set It Up

Getting Claude Computer Use running took about 30 minutes. Here’s the quick rundown:

1. Applied for Beta Access: Submitted a request on Anthropic’s developer portal.
2. Installed the Desktop Agent: This app bridges Claude’s actions with my PC — safely sandboxed.
3. Set Permissions: I granted access to Chrome, VS Code, Gmail, and Notion.
4. Connected via API Key: Integrated it through the Anthropic SDK.
5. Simulation Mode First: I ran a “dry test” before giving full control — smart move.

When I finally toggled full access, Claude politely greeted me with:

“Hi Santosh! I’m ready to assist. Shall I begin cleaning your inbox?” That’s when things got interesting.

5 Real Tasks I Tested

I ran Claude through five real-world tasks across different apps to see how “human” it could really act.

1. Email Cleanup (Gmail Automation)

I asked Claude to archive newsletters older than 30 days. It opened Gmail, applied filters, and archived 312 emails in 5 minutes — no macros, no scripts. Worked perfectly — except for one false positive (“Newsletter Plan” from a client).

2. Bug Fixing in VS Code

My React app had a stubborn “render loop” bug. Claude inspected the App.jsx file, spotted an unnecessary dependency in useEffect, and fixed it by rewriting:

useEffect(() => {  fetchData();}, []); // Removed unnecessary state dependency

Then it ran the dev server, checked the console, and confirmed: “No rendering errors detected.” Honestly? That’s the moment I felt the future breathing down my neck.

3. Excel Data Entry Automation

Claude imported a CSV file of 2,000 leads into Excel, removed duplicates using conditional formatting, and standardized phone numbers via a formula:

=TEXT(A2,"0000000000")

It then exported the cleaned sheet as a new CSV — perfectly formatted. This would’ve taken me 30 minutes. Claude did it in 4.

4. Notion Workspace Organization

I told it: “Group my notes by category and summarize each page in 3 bullet points.” Claude navigated Notion (which, let’s be honest, tests everyone’s patience) and created smart subpages with summaries like:

Topic: Machine Learning

Overview of supervised vs unsupervised models

Notes on TensorFlow setup

Tasks pending for project update

It even used emojis for better visual organization. Yes, Claude has style.

5. Social Media Task

Claude scheduled a prewritten tweet using the X (Twitter) web interface — opened the page, pasted text, checked character count, and paused:

“Confirming this post fits tone and policy guidelines. Shall I post?” Responsible AI, folks. Respect.

3 Real-World Use Cases (with Technical Details)

1. Automating QA Testing: Developers can use Claude to run UI tests visually — it can open apps, click through flows, and record bugs. Unlike Selenium scripts, it doesn’t rely on fixed element IDs — it understands screen context.
2. Customer Support Workflow: Support teams can let Claude read tickets, cross-reference CRM data, and auto-fill replies using templates. It integrates with APIs and on-screen CRM systems directly.
3. Database Management: Claude can open SQL clients, write queries, and export reports — like:

SELECT * FROM users WHERE signup_date > '2025-01-01';

Then it copies results into Excel, emails them to a team — all autonomously.

What Failed (and Why)

1. Window Confusion: If Chrome and VS Code overlapped, Claude sometimes clicked the wrong tab.
2. Speed: It acts at human pace, one click at a time.
3. File Restrictions: Can’t access system-level directories due to sandboxing.
4. Zero Creativity: Can automate — but not innovate (yet).

Security and Privacy Concerns

I’ll admit, letting an AI run your system is anxiety-inducing. Thankfully, Anthropic built some guardrails:

1. All activity is logged and reviewable.
2. You can pause or revoke access instantly.
3. Claude can’t access local drives or webcam data.
4. Communication is end-to-end encrypted.

Still, this tech should never run unattended in production environments — especially around sensitive data.

5 Practical Tips for IT Professionals to Get Started Safely

1. Start in Simulation Mode: Always test Claude’s actions before enabling full control.
2. Use a Sandbox Environment: Run it on a secondary machine or virtual OS first.
3. Set App-Specific Permissions: Limit access only to apps it truly needs.
4. Monitor Logs Frequently: Keep the Anthropic dashboard open to track behavior.
5. Pair It with Scripts: Combine Claude’s contextual AI with your own API scripts for powerful hybrid automation.

The Career Impact — and Opportunity

Claude Computer Use signals the rise of a new role: AI Automation Engineer — professionals who design, prompt, and manage hybrid workflows between humans and AI systems.

IT students who understand Python, APIs, and prompt orchestration are perfectly positioned to lead this revolution. Think less “job loss” and more “job evolution.” The ones who understand AI will supervise it — not be replaced by it.

How to Get Access

1. Visit anthropic.com → Developers → Apply for Beta Access.
2. Once approved, download the Claude Desktop Agent.
3. Generate your API key and connect it using the Anthropic Python SDK.
4. Run a “dry” simulation before giving real permissions.
5. Experiment with small tasks — Gmail cleanup, file sorting, or browser automation.

Conclusion: The Beginning of AI That Does

After spending 24 hours watching Claude click, scroll, and type on my screen, I realized something: This isn’t just automation — it’s collaboration.

We’ve officially entered an era where AI can sit beside you and work. Sure, it’s imperfect, a little slow, and sometimes confused — but it’s also powerful, safe, and incredibly promising.

In a few years, we might not be asking, “Can AI help me do this?” We’ll be asking, “Should I even do this manually anymore?”

Next Steps for You

If you’re a developer or IT student:

• Learn prompt engineering and API integration.
• Experiment with sandbox AI tools like Claude and Auto-GPT.
• Build your own automation workflows — and share them online.

Because the future isn’t about AI replacing humans. It’s about humans who know how to use AI replacing those who don’t.

Follow TCE Tech Jankari for more hands-on AI experiments, developer guides, and real-world tech breakdowns every week.