How can an AI agent control your own computer?

By running a small part of itself on your computer. That local piece holds the permissions your system gave it, captures your screen, and performs the clicks and keystrokes the model asks for. Without it, an agent can only work on a machine it already controls, such as a browser in the cloud.

What you give up, and what you get

Letting an agent use your own computer gives it your files, your signed-in apps and your desktop software. It also gives it a view of everything on screen. Anthropic's help page for Claude puts it directly: the agent can see any information visible on your screen, so close sensitive windows first. Anthropic's developer docs go further for builders, recommending a dedicated virtual machine or container with minimal privileges.

A middle path: a separate machine of your own

Some setups split the difference. Cua's Lume tool creates local virtual machines, so an agent can work in a fresh macOS system on your own hardware, away from your real desktop. It takes more setup but keeps your main account out of reach.

Short answers

Can superbot control my own computer, or only a cloud one?

Both. superbot's computer use acts on your own Mac or Windows PC when you set it to Ask or Always. Its desktop app also has a Browser pane where agent pages can open in the Cloud or on This Mac, and on Windows This computer.

What are the key differences between desktop AI agents and browser agents?

Reach and risk. A desktop agent can work any app on your computer and sees your whole screen. A browser agent, such as one built with the open-source Browser Use library, works only inside web pages and reads them directly, which is usually faster and steadier but cannot open a desktop program.

Is it safer to let an agent use a virtual machine?

Safer for your files, yes, because the agent sees only what is inside it. The trade is convenience: your documents and signed-in apps are not there unless you put them there.

Will the agent see my notifications and other windows?

If they are on screen when it takes a screenshot, yes. Turn on a focus mode and close what you do not want seen before a run.