Computer & browser use in Codex (5 real examples)
· 28 min
Episode Computer & browser use in Codex (5 real examples)
Today I’m walking you through one of my absolute favorite AI features right now: browser and computer use via Codex (the ChatGPT desktop app). I use this every single day, personally and professionally, and I wanted to share the specific workflows I’ve built, the moments that surprised me, and the mental model that makes it actually click.
What you’ll learn:
• How browser use and computer use work, and why the Codex desktop app plus Chrome extension is the combo I rely on • How I use Codex to QA my onboarding flow, including exhaustive mobile testing I would never do manually • Why under-prompting frontier models gets better results than detailed step-by-step instructions • How my husband EJ Lawless’s persona-impersonation trick surfaces friction points I can’t see as the builder • How I use browser use to get through my LinkedIn inbox without touching it myself • How I had Codex shop Free People’s sale and add 10 medium items to my cart (breastfeeding-friendly and Hawaii-ready) • How computer use can control iPhone mirroring so your Mac can technically operate your phone • Three more computer-use shortcuts: filling annoying forms, creating Google Sheets mid-workflow, and managing router
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Brought to you by:
Runway—The creative AI platform for images, video and more
Hyperagent—Deploy fleets of agents that handle real work
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In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Intro
(01:46) What browser use and computer use actually are
(03:08) Why I use Codex specifically and how the desktop app plus Chrome extension works
(04:15) Use case 1: QA testing my onboarding flow
(10:41) Results: 11 issues, one high-severity blocker, one Google Sheet with screenshots
(12:10) Use case 2: persona testing
(18:20) Use case 3: LinkedIn inbox, hands-free
(20:37) Use case 4: AI personal shopper
(23:47) Rapid-fire uses: forms, iPhone mirroring, router access from out of state, Google Docs
(26:50) Wrap-up
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Tools referenced:
• Codex (ChatGPT desktop app): https://openai.com/codex
• Claude desktop app: https://claude.ai/download
• Monologue (voice dictation for AI): https://monologue.app
• iPhone mirroring (Apple): https://support.apple.com/en-us/111775
• Google Sheets: https://sheets.google.com
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Other references:
• Jesse Genet episode (How I AI): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/5-openclaw-agents-run-my-home-finances?utm_source=publication-search
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Where to find Claire Vo:
ChatPRD: https://www.chatprd.ai/
Website: https://clairevo.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairevo/
X: https://x.com/clairevo
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Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email jordan@penname.co.
Links in the notes 13
- https://runwayml.com/howIAI
- https://hyperagent.com/howiai
- https://openai.com/codex
- https://claude.ai/download
- https://monologue.app/
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/111775
- https://sheets.google.com/
- https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/5-openclaw-agents-run-my-home-finances?utm_source=publication-search
- https://www.chatprd.ai/
- https://clairevo.com/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairevo/
- https://x.com/clairevo
- https://penname.co/
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