A team at Hugging Face has recently launched a freely available, cloud-hosted AI "agent" designed to interact with computers. Named Open Computer Agent, it can operate a Linux virtual machine preloaded with various applications, including Firefox. Much like OpenAI’s Operator, users can give Open Computer Agent tasks, such as “Use Google Maps to find the Hugging Face HQ in Paris,” and watch as it navigates the programs to complete the job. While Open Computer Agent performs straightforward tasks reasonably well, more complex requests can be a challenge. For instance, during TechCrunch's testing, it struggled with tasks like searching for flights. One significant obstacle is its inability to solve CAPTCHA tests, which frequently interrupt its workflow. Additionally, users must wait their turn in a virtual queue to access Open Computer Agent. This queue can range from a few seconds to several minutes, depending on the level of demand. The primary aim of the Hugging Face team, however, was not to create a cutting-edge computer-using AI but to showcase the growing capabilities and cost-effectiveness of open AI models when run on cloud infrastructure. Aymeric Roucher, a member of the agents team at Hugging Face, explained in a post on X, “As vision models become more sophisticated, they are better equipped to manage complex agentic workflows. Some of these models come with built-in grounding, allowing them to pinpoint elements in images by coordinates and thereby click on items within a virtual machine.” Despite its limitations, agentic technology is gaining significant traction among businesses looking to enhance productivity. A recent KPMG survey revealed that 65% of companies are currently experimenting with AI agents. The market projections are also promising, with Markets and Markets forecasting the AI agent segment to grow from $7.84 billion in 2025 to $52.62 billion by 2030. This development underscores the ongoing evolution and increasing accessibility of AI technologies, particularly those that can autonomously perform tasks in digital environments. While Open Computer Agent may not be ready for prime-time use in critical business operations, it serves as a valuable proof of concept, illustrating the potential of open-source models to achieve more sophisticated and practical applications in the future.