Hacker News users discuss their use of "computer mode" in AI coding tools like Codex, sharing use cases such as automating repetitive tasks, testing software, managing files, and controlling desktop applications through natural language commands.
Background
- This is an "Ask HN" post on Hacker News, a community site for software engineers and startup people.
- "Computer mode" refers to a feature in AI coding tools (OpenAI's Codex CLI, Claude, etc.) where the AI can autonomously run commands, edit files, and interact with your computer — not just suggest code.
- This marks a shift from "copilot" tools (AI that writes text/code for you to paste) to "agents" (AI that actually executes code and debugs itself). It's new and raises trust/safety concerns since the AI runs arbitrary commands on your machine.
- The asker wants real-world use cases from people who've tried it.
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