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November 20, 2024
Development in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is progressing rapidly. A particularly exciting area is the development of AI agents capable of operating computers like humans. One example is Claude, a large language model (LLM) from the company Anthropic, which is now equipped with a new function: computer use. This allows Claude to react to visual information and perform actions on a computer by operating the screen, cursor, keyboard, and mouse.
This development has garnered significant attention in the tech world and is seen as a significant step towards a future where AI agents can automate everyday tasks on the computer. However, Claude's computer use functionality is still in beta and is classified as experimental. Nevertheless, it offers a fascinating glimpse into the possibilities of future AI applications.
The functionality of Claude's computer use is based on two key concepts: agents and multimodality. Claude acts as an agent that breaks down complex tasks into individual steps and executes them sequentially. It uses a similar approach to the ReAct framework, which guides LLMs through a planning, action, and observation cycle. Claude can access predefined tools, such as mouse and keyboard control, and observes the results of its actions to plan the next step.
Multimodality allows Claude to process both text and visual information. In the demonstration, Claude uses screenshots of the screen to understand the context and plan its actions. It is conceivable that future versions could also use other visual data sources.
In a demonstration published by Anthropic, Claude was tasked with creating a simple 1990s-style website. Claude independently opened a web browser, navigated to the website claude.ai, and instructed a separate instance of Claude in the browser to generate the HTML code for the website. Claude then downloaded the code, opened it in a code editor, and executed it locally. In doing so, Claude recognized an error in the execution command line and corrected it independently.
Claude's computer use functionality has the potential to fundamentally change the way we work on computers. Applications in the areas of software development, data analysis, automation of routine tasks, and much more are conceivable. AI agents could take over complex workflows and increase efficiency.
However, there are also challenges. The technology is still in its early stages, and errors occur. For example, Claude has difficulties with actions such as scrolling, dragging, and zooming. In addition, security aspects must be considered, as computer use could open up new possibilities for misuse, such as spam or fraud. Anthropic is working on security measures to minimize these risks.
The development of AI agents with computer use capabilities is a promising area of research. Claude, with its new functionality, is an important step in this direction. It remains to be seen how the technology will evolve and what applications will emerge in the future. Feedback from developers and users in the beta phase will help to improve the technology and realize its full potential.
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