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.
Listen or watch on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts
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-size 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 a router
Brought to you by:
** Runway**—The creative AI platform for images, video, and more
** Hyperagent**—Deploy fleets of agents that handle real work
In this episode, we cover:
([00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk63Sl-LRKE)) Intro
([01:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk63Sl-LRKE&t=106s)) What browser use and computer use actually are
([03:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk63Sl-LRKE&t=188s)) Why I use Codex specifically and how the desktop app plus Chrome extension works
([04:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk63Sl-LRKE&t=255s)) Use case 1: QA testing my onboarding flow
([10:41](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk63Sl-LRKE&t=641s)) Results: 11 issues, one high-severity blocker, one Google Sheet with screenshots
([12:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk63Sl-LRKE&t=730s)) Use case 2: persona testing
([18:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk63Sl-LRKE&t=1100s)) Use case 3: LinkedIn inbox, hands-free
([20:37](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk63Sl-LRKE&t=1237s)) Use case 4: AI personal shopper
([23:47](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk63Sl-LRKE&t=1427s)) Rapid-fire uses: forms, iPhone mirroring, router access from out of state, Google Docs
([26:50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk63Sl-LRKE&t=1610s)) Wrap-up
Tools referenced:
• Codex (ChatGPT desktop app): [https://openai.com/codex](https://openai.com/codex)
• Claude desktop app: [https://claude.ai/download](https://claude.ai/download)
• Monologue (voice dictation for AI): [https://monologue.app](https://monologue.app)
• iPhone mirroring (Apple): [https://support.apple.com/en-us/111775](https://support.apple.com/en-us/111775)
• Google Sheets: [https://sheets.google.com](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/](https://www.chatprd.ai/)
Website: [https://clairevo.com/](https://clairevo.com/)
LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairevo/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairevo/)
Production and marketing by [https://penname.co/](https://penname.co/). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [[email protected]](/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection).