A cloud browser provides remotely hosted web execution with its own processes, storage, network, and optional identity. It can support automation, isolated browsing, testing, scraping, and agent tasks without giving direct control over a user's primary browser or device.
Isolation depends on configuration. Sessions need credential protection, network controls, resource limits, patching, cleanup, audit records, and explicit decisions about cookies, downloads, recordings, and persistent state.
ELI5
A cloud browser is a web browser running on a remote server. A person or AI agent controls it over the network while the remote environment stores the browser session, cookies and page state.
For example, an authorized agent can continue a research task in its cloud browser after the user's computer turns off. The browser needs strong authentication and clear action limits because it may hold signed-in sessions and access sensitive websites.
Why give an AI agent a cloud browser?
It can provide remote availability, isolation, reproducibility, managed automation, separate identity, and protection for the user's primary device.
What data can a cloud browser retain?
Depending on settings, it can retain cookies, history, cache, downloads, screenshots, recordings, logs, credentials, and session state.
