Issue #9 - AI That Does The Work, Not Just The Talking

Issue #9  •  August 18, 2026

AI That Does the Work, Not Just the Talking

You've probably used AI to answer a question. Have you used it to actually get something done?

For the past couple of years, “using AI” meant one thing: type a question into a chat box, read the answer, then go do the work yourself. Look something up, then open ten browser tabs to act on what you learned.

That's starting to change. The newest AI tools can now do things directly — click through websites, fill in forms, compare options across a few pages — while you check in only when it needs a decision from you. You still tell it what to do, and you still approve anything that matters. But the tab-juggling? That part is starting to disappear.

A real example: Claude, the AI assistant made by Anthropic, just added a feature called Cowork that runs right inside Chrome, in a panel next to whatever page you're on. It's part of a wider shift happening across AI tools right now, not just one company's feature — and it won't be the last update like this.

Answering vs. Acting

The Old Way — Answering	The New Way — Acting
You ask, it answers.	You ask, it does.
You open the tabs.	It opens the tabs.
You compare and decide.	It gathers, you decide.
Best for: learning, getting an explanation.	Best for: repetitive tasks, comparisons, research legwork.

This Week's Tip — Try This Exact Prompt

1. Click here to open Claude in Chrome. If it's not installed yet, click “Add to Chrome,” then sign in with your Claude account when it asks.
2. Look for the Claude icon ✧ in your Chrome toolbar, top right, and click it to open the side panel. (Don't see it there? Click the puzzle-piece icon in the toolbar, find Claude in the list, and click the thumbtack next to it — that pins it so it's always visible.)
3. Paste this into the chat box in the panel and hit enter. Just swap in the service you need and your city or zip code:

“Search Yelp and Google for plumbers near [your city or zip code]. List the top 5 with their star rating, number of reviews, and phone number. Don't contact anyone — just show me the list.”

Review the list it hands back, then decide who to call. It just did the legwork — you still make the call. (One thing it can't check: licensing and insurance. Always verify that yourself before hiring anyone.)

The Part a Plain Chatbot Can't Do

Here's where it gets interesting. Once you have your shortlist, tell Claude:

“Open [top pick]'s website and fill out their contact or quote-request form. Use my name, [your phone number], and describe the job as: ‘[a quick description, e.g. leaky kitchen faucet, want it fixed this week].’ Show me exactly what you've filled in before you submit anything.”

A plain AI chat can tell you what to type in a form. A tool with real “agent” abilities — Claude in Chrome, Claude Cowork, ChatGPT's Agent mode, and others — can actually see the page and fill it in for you. That's the real difference this issue is about: not which company or which browser, but whether the tool can act, not just answer.

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Go Deeper

This week's companion guide shows you how both of these prompts are built — so you can write your own version for other tasks, and know when you actually need an “acting” tool versus when a plain chat will do.

Read the Guide →

Talk soon,
Gary
Founder, AI Unlocked

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