Computer and 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.

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What you’ll learn:

1. How browser use and computer use work, and why the Codex desktop app plus Chrome extension is the combo I rely on

2. How I use Codex to QA my onboarding flow, including exhaustive mobile testing I would never do manually

3. Why under-prompting frontier models gets better results than detailed step-by-step instructions

4. How my husband EJ Lawless’s persona-impersonation trick surfaces friction points I can’t see as the builder

5. How I use browser use to get through my LinkedIn inbox without touching it myself

6. How I had Codex shop Free People’s sale and add 10 medium-size items to my cart (breastfeeding-friendly and Hawaii-ready)

7. How computer use can control iPhone mirroring so your Mac can technically operate your phone

8. Three more computer-use shortcuts: filling annoying forms, creating Google Sheets mid-workflow, and managing a router

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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

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

Other reference:

• Jesse Genet episode (How I AI): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/5-openclaw-agents-run-my-home-finances?utm_source=publication-search

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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