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Computer Use is 45x more expensive than structured APIs

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Re: Computer Use is 45x more expensive than structured APIs

#122

Post by einpoklum »

rahulyc wrote: post #98

All the websites currently blocking Claude Code or other AI agents are fighting a losing battle. Computer-use is in the early stages, and the thing preventing mass-adoption seems to be the number of tokens it takes. Agents can fumble around trying 10 CLI commands that don't work before finding the right one and we barely notice. But other visual agents (browser use / computer use etc) end up eventually fumbling on to…

> the thing preventing mass-adoption seems to be the number of tokens it takes.

Try the exhorbitant expenses and ballooning waste of generated electricity and usable water.

Re: Computer Use is 45x more expensive than structured APIs

#124

Post by EduardoBautista »

Aurornis wrote: post #106
boringg wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tokens cheaper? I don't think that seems to be the case ... VC funded tokens were there to build user base and token price will go up as they eventually switch from growth to profitability.

I wish I could place a lot of money on the opposite side of this bet. I don't think many realize how could the cheap, alternative models are becoming. I prefer SOTA models for key work, but I can also spend 10X as many tokens on an open model hosted by a non-VC subsidized provider (who is selling at a profit) for tasks that can tolerate slightly less quality. The situation is only getting better as models improve and…

Yes, but how cheap is it to run four at the same time? It’s tough to run one good model locally, but running four at the same time which I commonly do with Claude and Codex just doesn’t seem to be happening anytime soon.

Re: Computer Use is 45x more expensive than structured APIs

#126

Post by lazide »

linkjuice4all wrote: post #120
ctoth wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If agents is what it finally takes to get good a11y I'll take it. I'll bitch about it, but I'll take it.

I mean…I guess. But this is ridiculous - how many layers does our technology need to bash through to update two records on remote systems? I get that value is being added at some point - but just charge some micropayment for transactions. This is just too much.

Ever read Vernor Vinge’s a deepness in the sky? Digital archeologist, coming right up.

Re: Computer Use is 45x more expensive than structured APIs

#127

Post by solenoid0937 »

pjc50 wrote: post #113
ctoth wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If agents is what it finally takes to get good a11y I'll take it. I'll bitch about it, but I'll take it.

Very real risk of this going in reverse: people building inaccessible websites to prevent AI use.

Those people probably aren't working on anything useful anyways, so its no big deal.

Re: Computer Use is 45x more expensive than structured APIs

#128

Post by bottlepalm »

There's no way this is true. I would argue in some cases computer use is less expensive. First for APIs that don't even exist, it's a non starter. Second most APIs are not designed for agents and are verbose as hell - returning the entire DTO and tons of unnecessary properties burns tokens. Second computer use is not as token hungry as you think it is - a single screenshot may be just 1000 tokens, it's actually competitive and beats API workflows in many cases.
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