Browser extension

The DeskWink browser extension lets your AI work in the browser you already use, in a separate tab group named “DeskWink”, while you keep browsing. It works in Chrome and Edge. This is the same guide as the Browser extension page in the DeskWink console.

Why install it

• Your AI works in your own browser, not in a second browser of its own.
• Everything it opens goes into one tab group named “DeskWink”. Your other tabs stay out of its reach.
• You keep browsing meanwhile. Drag a tab into the group to hand it to your AI, and out again to take it back.
• While your AI works, Chrome shows a bar saying DeskWink is debugging the browser. That is expected: it keeps the activity visible.

What your AI can and cannot do

It can

• Open pages, read them, click, type and take screenshots, but only in tabs inside the DeskWink tab group.
• Ask you first before it acts on a site it has not used before.
• Ask you first before it pays, deletes, sends, uploads a file or submits a password.

It cannot

• See, list or take screenshots of any tab outside the DeskWink tab group.
• Read your cookies, saved passwords or browsing history. The extension does not ask the browser for those permissions.
• Send screenshots anywhere except to your AI.
• Work while DeskWink is not running on that computer.

Set it up in three steps

1. Install the extension. It works in Chrome and Edge. Edge uses the same Chrome Web Store listing: when Edge asks, allow extensions from other stores.
2. Link it to DeskWink on that computer. In a terminal on the computer whose browser you want your AI to use, run this once. It lets the extension talk to DeskWink on that computer, and nothing else. DeskWink must be running (deskwink launch).
   deskwink browser setup Copy
3. Ask your AI to open a page. For example: “Open example.com in my browser and tell me what is on the page.” The first time on each site, the extension asks you to allow it before your AI acts there.

Check that it is connected

The Browser extension page in the console shows, for each computer, whether the extension is connected, not connected, or unknown. It says unknown when the computer is offline or does not report it yet.

Remove it

Run this on the computer:

Then remove the extension from the browser: open chrome://extensions (edge://extensions in Edge) and click Remove under DeskWink.

Desktop control

Separate from the browser extension, desktop control lets your AI see your screen and use the mouse and keyboard. It is new, arrives on Windows first, and is off by default.

• Turn it on, on that computer only: deskwink capabilities enable desktop. The console and the cloud can’t turn it on.
• Every session needs your approval in the terminal on that computer: deskwink approvals approve <id>. Neither the console nor your AI can approve it.
• You can end control at any time from the console, or on the computer with deskwink stop.
• Sensitive apps, such as password managers and your system’s security prompts, are always off-limits.

For the wider picture, see the Security model, and Connect your AI if you have not connected an AI app yet.