Claude can take over your entire computer: but that is actually useful
Claude and Connectors
Connectors are used as much as possible: these are apps that are, as it were, connected and synchronized with Claude. However, if a connection is not possible, Claude will take over your PC to carry out what needs to be done. It does ask permission first before it starts scrolling, clicking on things to open them and poking around in your computer. It can even be done remotely, as long as the computer is on. To do this, you use Dispatch, a tool made by Anthropic for performing remote tasks. It’s just not available to everyone, but only to people using Claude Pro and Claude Max on MacOS. Anthropic is therefore taking it easy: it also indicates that the system does not always work perfectly and that it sometimes has to give complex tasks a second try. It also takes longer to get tasks done via the computer and how it is completed is more error-prone. It is better to use Connectors, says Anthropic.
Dangers
The question is whether you want to use it. Letting AI take over your computer freely while it can make mistakes is tricky. What if he makes off with all kinds of sensitive information? What if security issues arise? It sounds like a pretty risky activity at this point. Anthropic says it has taken security measures to reduce risks, and has also flagged banned apps such as investing apps and cryptocurrency wallets, but still: it continues to give AI access to just about everything. Anthropic is honest about it. It warns that when ‘computer use’ is activated, Claude can see everything visible on the screen. This means that “personal data, sensitive documents or private data” are also visible. The advice? During this research phase, “start with apps you trust and don’t work with sensitive data.”