> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.adsmcp.si/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Computer Use Agents & ADSMCP > What are computer use agents? How Perplexity Computer, Manus, Codex, and other autonomous AI agents connect to ADSMCP for hands-free ad campaign management. Computer use agents are the next evolution of AI assistants — from tools you prompt to agents that **execute**. Instead of asking an AI to help you write an ad, you tell it to research your market, create a campaign, and monitor performance. The agent handles the rest. ADSMCP connects to multiple computer use agents, giving them direct access to 400+ advertising tools across Google Ads, Meta Ads, Amazon Ads, ChatGPT Ads, LinkedIn Ads, and TikTok Ads. ## What Are Computer Use Agents? Traditional AI assistants answer questions. Computer use agents **take action**. They can: * Break complex goals into subtasks and execute them sequentially * Call external tools (like ADSMCP's MCP server) to interact with real platforms * Run for extended periods — minutes, hours, or on a schedule * Chain web research, data analysis, and platform actions in a single workflow * Operate autonomously with minimal human intervention The key difference: you describe the **outcome** you want, not the steps to get there. ## How They Work with ADSMCP Computer use agents connect to ADSMCP via MCP (Model Context Protocol — an open standard for connecting AI assistants to external tools) — the same protocol used by all ADSMCP-compatible AI clients. The agent discovers ADSMCP's 400+ tools and uses them as part of its autonomous workflows. ```mermaid theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}} theme={null} flowchart TD A[You] -->|"Launch a Google Ads campaign for my SaaS"| B[Computer Use Agent] B --> C[Research competitors on the web] B --> D[Research keywords via ADSMCP] B --> E[Create campaign via ADSMCP] B --> F[Generate performance report] C & D & E & F --> G[Deliver results to you] ``` The agent decides **which tools to call, in what order, and how to combine results**. With ADSMCP connected, it has direct access to your ad accounts — no dashboards, no manual steps. ## Supported Computer Use Agents ADSMCP works with multiple autonomous agents. Each connects via MCP and gets access to the same 400+ tools. | Agent | Auth | Autonomous | Web Research | Best For | Setup Guide | | - | - | :-: | :-: | - | :-: | | **Perplexity Computer** | OAuth | Yes | Yes (native) | Research + campaign creation | [Guide](https://docs.adsmcp.si/ai-clients/perplexity.md) | | **Manus** | API Key | Yes | Yes | Dashboards, scheduled briefs, deep research | [Guide](https://docs.adsmcp.si/ai-clients/manus.md) | | **Codex** | OAuth | Yes | No | Scheduled monitoring, daily checks | [Guide](https://docs.adsmcp.si/ai-clients/codex.md) | | **OpenClaw** | OAuth / API Key | Semi | No | Pre-configured ad agent, CLI workflows | [Guide](https://docs.adsmcp.si/ai-clients/openclaw.md) | ### Perplexity Computer Perplexity Computer orchestrates 19+ AI models to execute complex tasks. Its unique advantage is **native web search** — it can research competitors, market trends, and industry benchmarks in real-time, then immediately act on that research using ADSMCP tools. * **Plan required:** Perplexity Max ($200/mo) for Computer; Pro ($20/mo) for connectors only * **How it connects:** Custom connector in Perplexity Computer → Connectors → OAuth * **Skills:** Upload `SKILL.md` via Computer → Skills → + Create skill. Perplexity applies skills automatically when relevant. * **Unique capability:** Combines real-time search with ad platform actions in a single workflow **Example workflow:** *"Research the top 5 competitors for project management SaaS, analyze their Google Ads strategy, then create a campaign targeting keywords they're missing. Budget \$50/day."* — Perplexity Computer searches the web, pulls keyword data via ADSMCP, creates the campaign, and delivers a summary. ### Manus Manus is a general-purpose autonomous agent that can browse the web, write code, and generate interactive dashboards. It connects to ADSMCP via API key authentication. * **Plan required:** Manus account (any tier) * **How it connects:** Custom MCP server with API key in Authorization header * **Unique capability:** Interactive dashboard generation, scheduled email briefs, 24/7 monitoring **Example workflow:** *"Set up a daily performance brief across all my ad platforms and email it to me every morning at 9 AM."* — Manus configures monitoring, fetches data daily, and delivers formatted reports. ### Codex OpenAI's Codex operates as a background agent that can run tasks autonomously, including on a schedule. * **Plan required:** Codex subscription * **How it connects:** One-command installer + OAuth * **Unique capability:** Scheduled autonomous tasks (e.g., daily performance checks at 8 AM) **Example workflow:** *"Every Monday at 9 AM, pull my Google Ads performance for the past week and flag any keywords with spend > \$50 and zero conversions."* ### OpenClaw OpenClaw is a CLI-based agent with ADSMCP's skill file pre-bundled. It runs locally on your machine with direct terminal access. * **Plan required:** OpenClaw (open source) * **How it connects:** Plugin install with bundled 14KB skill file * **Unique capability:** Pre-configured advertising agent with safety rules built in ## Computer Use Agents vs Chat Apps | | Chat Apps (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity Search) | Computer Use Agents (Perplexity Computer, Manus, Codex) | | - | - | - | | **Interaction** | You ask, AI responds | You define a goal, agent executes | | **Duration** | Single conversation | Can run for hours or on a schedule | | **Multi-step** | You guide each step | Agent plans and executes autonomously | | **Web research** | Limited or manual | Built-in (Perplexity, Manus) | | **Dashboards** | Text/table output | Interactive charts and reports (Manus) | | **Monitoring** | Manual checks | Automated alerts and scheduled briefs | | **Best for** | Quick queries, ad-hoc tasks | Complex workflows, ongoing management | > [!TIP] > > You don't have to choose one or the other. Many users use **chat apps for quick queries** (e.g., "How's my Google Ads CTR this week?") and **computer use agents for complex workflows** (e.g., "Audit all platforms, find wasted spend, and create an optimization plan"). ## What Computer Use Agents Can Do with ADSMCP | Workflow | What the Agent Does | Which Agents | | - | - | :-: | | **Full campaign launch** | Research market → find keywords → validate assets → create campaign (PAUSED) | All | | **Cross-platform audit** | Pull performance from all platforms → identify waste → recommend optimizations | All | | **Competitor research + action** | Search the web for competitor ads → analyze strategy → create campaigns to compete | Perplexity, Manus | | **Daily performance brief** | Fetch metrics → format summary → deliver via email or dashboard | Manus, Codex | | **Automated monitoring** | Watch for CPA spikes, budget overruns, or ROAS drops → alert you | Manus, Codex | | **Interactive dashboard** | Generate charts, KPI cards, and data tables from ad performance data | Manus, Perplexity | | **Budget optimization** | Analyze ROAS across campaigns → recommend reallocation → execute after approval | All | ## Safety with Autonomous Agents Autonomous agents acting on your ad accounts sounds risky. ADSMCP has multiple safety layers: 1. **All campaigns created PAUSED** — No live spend without your review 2. **OAuth scoping** — Agents only get the permissions you authorize 3. **Read-before-write** — Skills enforce research and validation before any creation 4. **Confirmation gates** — Spend-affecting actions require your approval 5. **No auto-retry** — Failed actions stop and report, never retry automatically 6. **Sandboxed execution** — Agents like Perplexity Computer run in secure sandboxes, isolated from your local machine See [Security & Data Privacy](https://docs.adsmcp.si/knowledge-base/security.md) for the full security model. ## Getting Started > **[Perplexity Setup](https://docs.adsmcp.si/ai-clients/perplexity.md)** > > Connect via OAuth in Perplexity Computer. Search + ads in one agent. > **[Manus Setup](https://docs.adsmcp.si/ai-clients/manus.md)** > > Connect via API key. Dashboards, briefs, and monitoring. > **[Codex Setup](https://docs.adsmcp.si/ai-clients/codex.md)** > > One-command install. Scheduled autonomous tasks. > **[OpenClaw Setup](https://docs.adsmcp.si/ai-clients/openclaw.md)** > > Pre-configured ad agent with bundled skills. ## FAQ > **Are computer use agents safe for managing ad spend?** > > Yes. ADSMCP enforces multiple safety layers regardless of which agent connects. All campaigns start PAUSED, spend-affecting actions require confirmation, and OAuth scoping limits what the agent can access. The agent never has direct access to your ad platform credentials. > **Which computer use agent is best for advertising?** > > It depends on your needs. **Perplexity Computer** is best for research-heavy workflows (competitor analysis + campaign creation). **Manus** is best for ongoing management (dashboards, scheduled briefs, monitoring). **Codex** is best for scheduled automation (daily checks, weekly reports). You can use multiple agents with the same ADSMCP account. > **Do tool calls from computer use agents count against my ADSMCP limit?** > > Yes. All tool calls count against your monthly limit regardless of which agent makes them. A Perplexity Computer workflow that calls 10 ADSMCP tools uses 10 calls from your plan. > **Can a computer use agent accidentally spend my ad budget?** > > No. Every campaign ADSMCP creates starts in PAUSED status — you must manually enable it. The agent cannot unpause campaigns or increase budgets on existing campaigns. See [Capabilities & Limitations](https://docs.adsmcp.si/knowledge-base/capabilities.md) for the full list. This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.