Computer Use Preview - Google's Open Source AI Browser Automation Tool

What is Computer Use Preview?

Computer Use Preview is an open-source AI-powered browser automation tool from Google. Based on the visual recognition capabilities of the Gemini model, it simulates human interaction with web pages through a "screenshot-analysis-action" process, without relying on fixed element positioning. The tool can handle complex tasks such as cross-website data transfer and visual interaction, and performed exceptionally well in task completion tests, scoring 69%, outperforming similar tools. Integrating the Gemini API and Vertex AI, Computer Use Preview possesses powerful task understanding capabilities, making it suitable for web testing, data collection, and everyday operations. It's an ideal choice for beginners with zero-code coding experience.

Main functions of Computer Use Preview

• Natural Language DrivenUsers can describe tasks using simple natural language, and AI will automatically plan and execute the operations without the need to write complex scripts, greatly reducing the barrier to entry.
• Intelligent InteractionIt supports handling complex browser operations such as navigation, clicks, form filling, and scrolling. The Gemini model can understand dynamic changes in the page and adapt to different scenarios.
• Dual environment support
  • Playwright (runs locally)Controlling a Chrome browser instance locally is suitable for scenarios requiring local data processing.
  • Browserbase (cloud environment)Connects to a Browserbase instance, suitable for scenarios requiring cloud resource support or distributed operations.
• Debug-friendlyIt supports screenshot and mouse highlighting functions, allowing users to monitor the execution process in real time, which facilitates debugging and optimization.
• AI large model ensembleIt integrates the Gemini API and Vertex AI, providing powerful task understanding capabilities and the ability to handle complex instructions and dynamic web page content.

How to use Computer Use Preview

• PreparationDownload the project files from the Computer Use Preview GitHub page and extract them to your local machine.
• Set up the operating environmentInstall Python (3.8 or higher recommended), create and activate a virtual environment to isolate project dependencies.
• Install dependenciesIn the project folder, run the command to install project dependencies and the Playwright browser.
• Configure API keyObtain the Gemini API key from Google Cloud and add it to your environment variables.
• Run toolsRun tools using natural language commands, such as: "Go to Google and type ‘Hello World’".
• Optional configuration: Specify the runtime environment (such as Playwright or Browserbase) and configure relevant parameters as needed.

The project address for Computer Use Preview

• GitHub repositoryhttps://github.com/google-gemini/computer-use-preview
• Online experience addressBrowserbase

Application scenarios of Computer Use Preview

• Web Automated TestingUsed for quickly testing webpage functionality and verifying whether button clicks, form submissions, and other operations are working correctly.
• Data collectionThe tool can automatically scrape data from web pages, such as news and product information, without requiring manual operation.
• Cross-site data transferAutomatically migrate data from one website to another, simplifying the data migration process.
• Daily task automationThe tool supports completing routine, repetitive tasks such as automatic login and scheduled queries, saving time and effort.
• Visual interaction tasksThe tool can handle complex visual interactions, such as identifying and classifying web page elements or performing drag-and-drop operations.