Recommendation for Computer use
Computer & Browser Use
Our top recommendation for Computer & Browser Use, based on the public evidence we track, is OpenAI: GPT-5.6 Sol.[1][2] Z.ai: GLM 5.2 is the next-ranked alternative. Use for voice-controlled desktop automation where you need the model to physically drive the GUI, open applications, and execute clicks.
About this recommendation
- Updated
- Sep 4, 2026
- Evidence through
- Sep 4, 2026
- Sources
- 11
- Revision
- v58
Decision audit
Why this result
Inspect the inputs and the computed order behind the recommendation.
Models screened
20
live candidates
Evaluation feeds
4
task-weighted
Winner coverage
83%
intended feed weight
Largest provider share
1 of 4
Anthropic
Sources evaluated
The task sets these weights before any model is scored.
| Evaluation feed | Weight | Winner result | Field measured |
|---|---|---|---|
| OSWorld Verified | 65% | #2 | 4/20 |
| LMArena Agent | 15% | #3 | 17/20 |
| Berkeley Function Calling | 10% | not measured | 3/20 |
| OpenRouter usage | 10% | 97/100 | 20/20 |
Provider concentration
Each exact model is scored separately; provider identity is not a ranking input.
- Anthropic1 model
- OpenAI1 model
- xAI1 model
- Z.ai1 model
Decision table
Every published model is shown in computed order. Practitioner sources are distinct community threads, not the citations repeated in the prose below.
| Rank | Model | Relative score | Coverage | Practitioner evidence | Strongest measured reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | GPT-5.6 SolOpenAI | 72 | 83% | 4 threads · 4 families · 4 cautions | #2 OSWorld Verified · #3 LMArena Agent |
| 02 | GLM 5.2Z.ai | 68 | 59% | 7 threads · 5 families · 1 cautions | #8 LMArena Agent |
| 03 | Claude Fable 5Anthropic | 62 | 59% | 2 threads · 2 families · 1 cautions | #2 LMArena Agent |
| 04 | Grok 4.6xAI | 58 | 59% | 3 threads · 3 families · 2 cautions | #12 LMArena Agent |
Relative score combines normalized benchmark quality and signal coverage; independent practitioner evidence and freshness are bounded tie-breakers. It is an ordering score, not an absolute quality percentage. The writing model receives this order and cannot change it.
OpenAI: GPT-5.6 Sol ranks #3 of 45 on LMArena's agentic arena (score 9.8), measuring tool-use and multi-step task performance from human preference.
Best when: Consider only after reviewing the cited caution.
GLM 5.2 powers Nolan, an open-source voice-driven GUI automation project that moves the mouse and clicks real interfaces, ranking #9 on LMArena's agentic arena.
Best when: Use for voice-controlled desktop automation where you need the model to physically drive the GUI, open applications, and execute clicks.
Tips
- Use for voice-controlled desktop automation where you need the model to physically drive the GUI, open applications, and execute clicks.
- Deploy as a lightweight local agent with 14 built-in tools and no Electron dependency for resource-constrained environments.
- Combine with vision-capable models like Kimi in multi-model agent setups, using GLM for reasoning while offloading screenshots elsewhere.
Watch out for
- Vision inputs fail silently when routed through Anthropic-compatible adapters, causing the model to hallucinate image content without warning.
- Web search and vision sidecars in Codex CLI default to OpenAI/Anthropic backends, forcing fallback routing when GLM is your primary model.
Claude Fable 5 ranks #2 on LMArena's agentic arena and demonstrates strong spatial reasoning for precise GUI manipulation tasks like 3D brush coordinate control.
Best when: Use for high-precision visual tasks requiring exact coordinate manipulation, such as 3D drawing tools with specific x,y,z positioning.
Tips
- Use for high-precision visual tasks requiring exact coordinate manipulation, such as 3D drawing tools with specific x,y,z positioning.
- Deploy when you need the highest human-preference ranking for tool-use and multi-step task performance.
Watch out for
- Environment variable injection (NO_COLOR=1, GIT_TERMINAL_PROMPT=0) propagates to daemon subprocesses, potentially breaking restarted long-lived services.
Grok 4.6 supports computer-use and browser automation in cloud VM environments but ranks lower on LMArena's agentic arena and suffers from critical context handling failures.
Best when: Use in Cursor Cloud for spawnable subagents with dedicated computer-use and browser capabilities, plus GitHub MCP integration.
Tips
- Use in Cursor Cloud for spawnable subagents with dedicated computer-use and browser capabilities, plus GitHub MCP integration.
Watch out for
- Screenshot-heavy sessions trigger irreversible context_overflow loops with failed automatic compaction, requiring manual session reset.
- Local exec tool calls abort immediately in Codex CLI when routed through third-party proxies, blocking all shell and file operations while web tools continue working.
Frequently asked
Sources
- 1
“## 项目地址 https://github.com/xcq20100224/Nolan ## 项目简介 市面上的 AI 助手只会给建议，Nolan 直接动手：对它说「打开网易云音乐，播放我喜欢列表里的第一首歌」，它会真的移动鼠标去完成。 ## 亮点 - **真·动手**：语音指令直接驱动 GUI 自动化（打开软件、点击、播放、写文件、定时叫醒） - **本地优先**：本地 faster-whisper 语音识别，隐私不出机；GLM-TTS 带离线兜底 - **轻架构**：GLM-5.2 Agent 循环 + 14 个本地工具；React + Python 标准库后端，无 Electron - **一键安装**：install.bat + 免费智谱 API key 即可跑 ## 演示 https://raw.githubusercontent.com/xcq20100224/Nolan/main/docs/demo.gif”
xcq20100224 · GitHub · Jul 31, 2026 - 2
“## 项目地址 https://github.com/xcq20100224/Nolan ## 一句话介绍 市面上的 AI 助手只会给建议，Nolan 直接动手：对它说「打开网易云音乐，播放我喜欢列表里的第一首歌」，它会真的移动鼠标去完成。 ## 主要特点 - **真·动手**：语音指令直接驱动 GUI 自动化——打开软件、点击、播放音乐、写文件、定时叫醒，不是输出聊天建议 - **本地优先**：语音识别用本地 faster-whisper，隐私不出本机；语音合成 GLM-TTS 带离线兜底 - **架构轻**：GLM-5.2 Agent 循环 + 14 个本地工具；React 前端 + Python 标准库后端，无 Electron - **一键安装**：install.bat 自动探测 Python 环境，配一个免费智谱 API key 即可运行 ## 演示 真机演示 GIF（自动打开网易云放歌全过程）： https://raw.githubusercontent.com/xcq20100224/Nolan/main/docs/demo.gif README 里还附了一次 Rea…”
xcq20100224 · GitHub · Jul 31, 2026 - 3
“Yes, you are right (as far as I'm aware). For things where you need the LLM to look at screenshots, photos or other images you can use Kimi-K2.6 K2.7 - comparable pricing, somewhat comparable performance and quality. You can even probably combine two models (e.g Kimi and GLM) in one agent, using Kimi for multimodal inputs and GLM for everything else, although 1) I'm not sure if this will not cause some kind of context poisoning with low-quality patterns for better performing model (e.g. in some…”
dryarzeg · Hacker News · Jun 17, 2026 - 4
“**提交人**: 盖世大宝 **客户端版本**: 0.1.20 --- ## 现象 在 claude-code agent 下使用纯文本模型（z-ai/glm-5.2，官方仅文本/代码模态，走第三方 Anthropic 兼容直通路由）时，Read 工具读取图片后，模型表现为收到空结果：无任何报错、无任何“图像无法送达”提示，模型要么反复重读，要么直接臆造图片内容。实测单任务浪费 66 分钟，并产出包含错误金额与人名的法律文件译文。 ## 复现步骤 1. 配置 claude-code agent，模型路由为 z-ai/glm-5.2（api-key-header 分支的 Anthropic 兼容直通，经 anthropic-compat-proxy 字节透传至 api.z.ai/api/anthropic 等 Anthropic 兼容端点）。 2. 让模型处理一张本地图片（如 Read 一张扫描件）。 3. 观察：模型不报错，行为如同工具返回了空内容。 ## 期望行为 图像无法送达时应被显式阻断或降级为说明性占位文本（“图像无法送达本路由，禁止臆测”），模型应立即告知用户，而非静默继续…”
cindy-issue[bot] · GitHub · Jul 28, 2026 - 5
“**English translation** *(original: ko)* ## Client or integration Codex CLI (opencode-go session, `glm-5.2 max` routing) ## Area Proxy and routing (directly related to Provider adapter area) ## Summary The `backend` of the web search sidecar and vision sidecar is fixed to only two values: `openai` / `anthropic`. Therefore, when the **main routing model is a provider other than OpenAI·Anthropic (e.g., z.ai GLM-5.2)**, the turns requiring search/vision must necessarily be executed through the Ope…”
github-actions[bot] · GitHub · Jul 24, 2026 - 6
“how about trying to draw an airbus a320 in 3d space using only one brush tool that can be moved to specific x,y,z coordinates (and its color, size & hardness can be changed). i think fable 5.1 did quite a good job (reasoning high, cost $0,261): https: files.catbox.moe umx102.png for comparision, this is fable 5: https: files.catbox.moe ihl4m1.png”
leumon · Hacker News · Sep 1, 2026 - 7
“Ranks #2 of 45 on LMArena's agentic arena (score 10.6), measuring tool-use and multi-step task performance from human preference.”
LMArena agentic arena · Benchmark · Aug 31, 2026 - 8
“## Environment - Claude Code v2.1.220 (npm global install), Windows 11 Pro, Windows Terminal + pwsh 7.6.4 - Model: claude-fable-5 ## Summary Claude Code injects `NO_COLOR=1` (and `GIT_TERMINAL_PROMPT=0`, `AI_AGENT=...`) into the environment of Bash/PowerShell tool subprocesses. That is reasonable for keeping tool output clean, but the variable is inherited by *anything* those subprocesses launch. If a user restarts a long-lived daemon from inside a Claude Code session (a very common workflow: "…”
wlstjdxo0 · GitHub · Jul 31, 2026 - 9
“from: SPUR to: OFFER id: spur-offer-cursor-cloud-20260820-01 subject: harness --- PLAIN: Cursor Cloud Grok 4.6 — spawn, computer-use, git-into-env, GitHub MCP, /goal, Agent Skills. Not the laptop. HARNESS: Cursor Cloud Agent · Grok 4.6 WHERE: cloud VM — not the owner's PC CAN: spawn subagents (explore, computerUse, generalPurpose); computer-use/browser; pull this repo into a fresh env and branch; GitHub issues/contents/PRs/gh; ntfy write roads; Agent Skills in .agents/skills; Cursor /goal CANNO…”
cursor[bot] · GitHub · Aug 20, 2026 - 10
“## What happened A Desktop session on `grok-4.6` (`xai-oauth`) entered a loop it cannot leave: every turn fails with `context_overflow` ("上下文窗口已超出限制") plus the recovery hint "没有执行工具，可直接重试", and automatic history compaction reports "Context summary failed" and keeps failing open. Retrying reproduces it exactly — the prompt is byte-identical on every attempt, so "retry directly" can never succeed. The session had read three PNG screenshots with `Read`. From the captured provider request for the f…”
Astro-Han · GitHub · Aug 21, 2026 - 11
“**提交人**: CC **客户端版本**: 0.1.46 --- ## 现象 Cindy 内置 Codex agent（cli 0.145.0）接 Grok / DeepSeek 等第三方模型时，本地 `exec` 在进入 shell 之前就失败。界面表现为工具被 abort；模型不断重试同一次调用，浪费 token，最终仍跑不成任何本地命令。网络类工具（如 web_search）可以成功。MCP / 会话历史等能力也挂在 `exec` 里，一并坏掉。 ## 复现步骤 1. 新建会话，Agent 选 Codex，模型选 Grok 4.6 或 DeepSeek-V4-Flash（经 cliproxy / cindy_gateway）。 2. 让 agent 执行任何本地操作（例如查 Git 状态、读项目文件、跑一条 shell）。 3. 观察 `exec` 是否立刻 abort，以及模型是否空转重试。 ## 期望行为 - 第三方模型能正常调用本地命令 / 读写文件；或 - payload 不符合时返回可纠正的 schema 错误，而不是 Fatal abort；并阻止同一回合无参重试…”
cindy-issue[bot] · GitHub · Aug 14, 2026
Rankings synthesized from community evidence and open benchmarks. See methodology. Not driven by vendor marketing.