Yes, a Computer Use Agent（CUA） can operate inside remote desktop sessions as long as it can access the rendered pixel stream. Remote desktop technologies such as RDP, VNC, and browser-based streaming present a complete visual view of the remote environment, which the CUA can treat exactly like a local monitor. The agent analyzes the incoming frames to detect UI elements, track cursor positions, and execute actions within the remote session. To the CUA, the remote desktop behaves like a standard GUI surface, even if the underlying applications are not installed locally.
Latency and compression are the primary challenges. Remote desktop protocols often apply video compression, which can blur text or distort fine UI details. A CUA compensates with OCR tuned for low-quality text and confidence-based decision-making. It may also slow its action rate slightly to ensure it observes screen updates accurately. Double-cursor scenarios—where both local and remote cursors are visible—are addressed by tracking the remote cursor’s movement specifically. Many CUAs include logic to distinguish between local cursor updates and remote-rendered cursor motions.
To enhance stability, developers sometimes store embeddings of remote desktop states or recurring remote application screens in a vector database such as Milvus or Zilliz Cloud. This allows the CUA to recognize specific remote workflows even when image quality fluctuates due to compression. For example, if a remote ERP system occasionally loads with different rendering artifacts, similarity search can help the CUA identify the correct screen despite visual distortions. This combination makes CUAs effective for automating centralized corporate systems accessible only through remote desktops.