Claude & Codex control your computer

Presented by Zapier: https://zapier.com/

👉 Link to resources: https://thenextnewthing.ai/l/evan-mcp-tools
👉 Evan Nison (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-nison/

What if your AI could actually use your computer for you?

In this episode of The Next New Thing, Andrew Warner talks with Evan Nison, who built tools that let AI agents control your browser, send messages, and complete real tasks across your desktop—all from the terminal.

Evan demos how his Browser Bridge and Desktop Bridge connect tools like Claude Code to real-world actions: filling out forms, navigating websites, sending iMessages, and even testing front-end code automatically. Instead of guessing from code or screenshots, the AI can now see, click, and fix things on its own.

They also break down how this fits into a broader shift toward MCP servers and agent workflows—where APIs, automation tools like Zapier, and direct computer control all work together.

The bigger idea: AI isn’t just generating outputs anymore—it’s becoming an operator, capable of executing real work across your entire system.

⏱ Timestamps
00:00 - AI controlling your browser from the terminal
00:18 - What Browser Bridge actually does
00:45 - Using MCP servers with Zapier and browser control
01:21 - Why APIs are still faster than browser actions
01:48 - Real use case filling out forms automatically
02:33 - Watching AI control the browser live
03:18 - How Evan structures data for automation
03:54 - Why human review still matters before submission
04:12 - Desktop Bridge controlling your computer
04:48 - Sending iMessages with AI
05:24 - Replacing manual outreach with automation
06:00 - How the system sends messages instantly
06:27 - Why Evan trusts Claude over other agents
07:03 - Bigger picture your own “OpenClaw” setup
07:30 - Use cases for browser and desktop control
08:06 - Why AI that can self-check is better
08:42 - Building Browser Bridge with Claude Code
09:18 - Iterating until the AI tools work together
09:54 - 180 plus tools inside Browser Bridge
10:30 - Using AI for front-end QA and debugging
10:57 - Automating authentication and setup
11:24 - Using Browser Bridge to build its own website
12:00 - Why it improves design and branding
12:27 - How Evan actually uses Zapier agents
13:03 - Biz dev prep agent example
13:30 - Email bounce recovery automation
13:57 - Why Zapier is still the easiest layer
14:24 - Final thoughts and real-world use cases

👉 Join us: https://thenextnewthing.ai/