Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.monolex.ai/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
AI Use Computer with Kernel CLI & MCP — Free & Freedom for All AIs
In 2026, only a few AIs can “use a computer.”
Claude charges $20-200/mo. OpenAI requires a subscription.
Both lock you to their model. Both use slow screenshots.
Both decide your safety boundary for you.
Kernel CLI gives every AI computer use — for free, through MCP.
One Config. Every AI Gets Computer Use.
{
"mcpServers": {
"kernel-cli": {
"command": "kernel-cli",
"args": ["--mcp"]
}
}
}
Claude Desktop → can now press buttons, read screens, control apps
Claude Code → can now merge PRs in Chrome, notify in Slack
Codex CLI → can now check CI status, manage windows
Gemini CLI → can now query browser history, launch apps
Cursor → can now read any app's UI structure
Any MCP AI → full OS access
What Every AI Gets
| Tool | What it does | Example |
|---|
ax_tree | Read UI structure of any app | See every button in Chrome |
ax_press | Press any button by name | ”Merge pull request” |
type_text | Type text into any field | Write a Slack message |
key | Keyboard shortcuts | Cmd+S, Cmd+Enter, Ctrl+C |
windows | List all open windows | Find which app is focused |
snapshot | Full system snapshot | Windows + AX tree + clipboard |
app | Launch, quit, switch apps | Open Safari, close TextEdit |
process | Running processes + CPU/memory | What’s using resources |
query | Search browser history, Notes, Photos | ”What did I search yesterday?” |
capture | Screenshot (when visual is needed) | Last resort, not first |
script | Run AppleScript/JXA | Complex multi-app automation |
scroll | Scroll any element | Navigate long pages |
window | Resize, move, focus windows | Arrange workspace |
search | Spotlight search | Find any file |
Crazy Fast. No Screenshots.
Every other “computer use” works like this:
Screenshot approach (Claude CU, OpenAI Operator):
📸 Take screenshot 500ms
🧠 Send to Vision Model (VLM) 2000ms
🤔 VLM guesses: "button at (450,320)" 1000ms
🖱️ Click at coordinates 100ms
❌ Might miss. Retry. +3600ms
Total: ~3.6 seconds. Probabilistic. Costs money per screenshot.
AX tree approach:
🌳 Read accessibility tree 50ms
🔍 Find "Merge pull request" 1ms
✅ Press via AX API 10ms
Total: 61ms. Deterministic. Free.
Real: Claude Desktop Merges a PR
Claude Desktop has no terminal. It can’t run shell commands.
But with Kernel CLI MCP, it can control Chrome:
Step 1: Read Chrome's UI
→ ax_tree(app="Chrome")
→ AXButton "Merge pull request" ✓
→ AXStaticText "All checks passed" ✓
Step 2: Press the button
→ ax_press(title="Merge pull request")
→ PR merged.
Step 3: Switch to Slack
→ app(action="switch", name="Slack")
→ ax_tree(app="Slack")
→ AXTextField "Message #engineering"
Step 4: Type notification
→ type_text("Feature shipped. PR #142 merged.")
→ key(combo="enter")
→ Message sent.
Real: Codex Checks CI and Deploys
Codex CLI runs in a terminal but can’t see Chrome.
With Kernel CLI MCP, it can:
Step 1: Check CI
→ ax_tree(app="Chrome", depth=3)
→ AXStaticText "All 47 checks passed"
Step 2: Read deploy button state
→ AXButton "Deploy to production" [enabled]
Step 3: Deploy
→ ax_press(title="Deploy to production")
Step 4: Verify
→ ax_tree(app="Chrome")
→ AXStaticText "Deployment in progress..."
Real: Gemini Researches Across Apps
Step 1: What tabs are open?
→ windows()
→ Chrome: "GitHub PR #142", "Stack Overflow - auth tokens"
→ Safari: "RFC 6749 - OAuth 2.0"
→ Notes: "Auth refactor plan"
Step 2: Read research notes
→ query(app="notes")
→ "Auth refactor plan: migrate to PKCE flow..."
Step 3: Check what was searched
→ query(app="safari")
→ Last 24h: "PKCE vs implicit flow", "OAuth 2.1 spec"
Step 4: Summarize
→ "Based on open tabs, notes, and search history:
you're migrating OAuth to PKCE. RFC 6749 is open.
The auth refactor plan mentions..."
Free & Freedom
Free
| Claude CU | OpenAI Operator | Kernel CLI |
|---|
| Price | $20-200/mo | Subscription | $0 |
| VLM cost per action | ~$0.01 | ~$0.01 | $0 |
| API dependency | Anthropic API | OpenAI API | None (local) |
Freedom
| Claude CU | OpenAI Operator | Kernel CLI |
|---|
| Works with | Claude only | GPT only | Any AI |
| Who sets safety boundary | Anthropic | OpenAI | You |
| Harness options | Vendor-controlled | Vendor-controlled | Raw / OTP / Enterprise |
| Offline | No | No | Yes |
Three Harness Levels
The capability is always the same. The control is your choice.
Level 1: BRAVE MODE (kernel-cli direct)
No gate. Immediate execution. For development and testing.
$ kernel-cli ax-press "Delete Everything" → executes now
Level 2: OTP MODE (niia control)
Physical harness. OTP from your email. Time-limited.
$ niia control unlock --scope full --duration 1h
$ niia control ax-press "Delete Everything" → after OTP only
Level 3: ENTERPRISE MODE (future)
Role-based policy. Audit log. Scope-limited per agent.
Only approved actions. Full compliance trail.
Setup
# Install
openclis install niia
# Verify
kernel-cli windows
# Add MCP to any AI
# Claude Desktop: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
# Claude Code: .mcp.json in project root
# Codex: codex.toml [mcp_servers] section
# Gemini: .gemini/settings.json
{
"mcpServers": {
"kernel-cli": {
"command": "kernel-cli",
"args": ["--mcp"]
}
}
}
Kernel CLI is part of NIIA by Monolex.
Free binary. Proprietary source. No subscription. No vendor lock.
