Phantom for beginners: the words you will see

Next, the words for who does what. A "resource" is something that can do work, such as a connected account, an API setting or a local model. "Automatic" picks an eligible resource for a chat. A "Manager" coordinates and reviews the work for one chat or one goal. The "Leader" looks across the whole fleet, decides what to do next and asks you questions. The README says roles pick an eligible account and a fitting model, not a favorite company.

Then the words about safety. A "grant" is a standing permission that you sign. It names the repositories, the engines and the limits. A "shadow" stage means Phantom records what it would have merged without merging anything. "Evidence" is the record of what ran, what changed and what was checked. The README is firm that an agent saying it finished does not by itself prove your goal was delivered.

A safe first 15 minutes looks like this. Install it with npm install -g @ashlr/phantom. It needs Node.js 22.15 or newer and Git. Run phm --version to check, then phm verse to open the console in your browser. Start with the demo, which the README says shows labeled sample accounts and runs no provider. Open Resources to see what is ready and what is not. Only then connect a real account and choose a small task you could review in ten minutes.

Know the limits. A connected account does not prove you have allowance left, so check each resource before you hand it work. Autonomy is dormant until you turn it on, and it is macOS only. The desktop app is locally signed and not notarized by Apple, and the README says a clean-Mac install has not been verified.

Phantom was formerly called Ashlr Verse. You may still see Verse in old links, the command phm verse and some internal names. Ashlr changed user-facing text to say Phantom on October 17, 2026.

"Deep autonomy" is our label for agents working unattended under a signed grant. Phantom's README calls it autonomy with custody. Here is what it covers.