Does every bot get its own computer?

Each bot can have its own: a cloud desktop, a local VM, your VPS or this computer, set per bot. A bot without one works in its folder and the terminal.

Can I see what the agent is doing?

Yes. The Screen panel shows the bot's desktop live, and Take control lets you use it yourself.

Is it safe to let an agent use my own computer?

It is off until you turn it on for a bot, a Mac asks you for permission first, and you can set the bot to ask before it acts. A cloud desktop or local VM keeps the agent off your own files entirely.

Which models can use a computer?

Claude, Codex, the ACP engines, Pi and OpenAI-compatible connections, each with its own model and sign-in.

Checked against the app and its docs November 8, 2026

AI agents that use their own computer

In MausBot each AI agent can have its own computer: a cloud desktop, a local VM, your VPS or your own machine, with a live screen you can watch or take over.

In MausBot, each bot can have its own computer: a cloud desktop that sleeps when idle, a local VM in Docker or Podman, your own VPS, or your own machine when you allow it. You watch the bot's screen live and can take control at any time. MausBot is free and open source; Cloud plans include computer-hours.

Download MausBot (free, for macOS, Windows and Ubuntu) · MausBot Cloud · Docs: Computers

The facts

Computers	Boat cloud desktop, Local VM (Docker or Podman), your own VPS over SSH, or this computer; chosen per bot
Watch and take over	A live screen in the bot's Screen panel, and Take control to use it yourself
Sign-ins	A Sign in needed card hands the screen to you; saved logins and 1Password fill a login page without the bot seeing the password
Cloud desktop	Sleeps after 10 minutes idle and wakes in seconds with its files kept
Your own machine	Off until you turn it on for a bot; on a Mac it needs Accessibility and Screen Recording permission
Price	Free with your own Boat key or a local VM; MausBot Cloud plans from $15 a month include cloud computers

How it works

Open a bot's Screen panel and pick its computer: cloud, local VM, your VPS, or this computer.
Give the bot a job that needs a screen: test a sign-up flow, fill a form, download reports.
Watch it work live. Choose Take control whenever you want the mouse back.
When a site needs a login, the bot asks with a card and you sign in, or it fills a saved login.

What to know first

Boat cloud desktops are a paid third-party service after their trial when you use your own key; Cloud plans include them.
Controlling your own computer is off by default, per bot, and best supported on macOS. Check the docs before you count on it on Linux.
Watching a screen is not permission: a bot only acts on the computer you gave it.

Frequently asked questions

Does every bot get its own computer?: Each bot can have its own: a cloud desktop, a local VM, your VPS or this computer, set per bot. A bot without one works in its folder and the terminal.
Can I see what the agent is doing?: Yes. The Screen panel shows the bot's desktop live, and Take control lets you use it yourself.
Is it safe to let an agent use my own computer?: It is off until you turn it on for a bot, a Mac asks you for permission first, and you can set the bot to ask before it acts. A cloud desktop or local VM keeps the agent off your own files entirely.
Which models can use a computer?: Claude, Codex, the ACP engines, Pi and OpenAI-compatible connections, each with its own model and sign-in.

In the docs

Computers