Anthropic debuts Cowork agent to automate your desktop work

Anthropic has unveiled Cowork, a new feature built into the Claude macOS app, now available as a research preview exclusively to Claude Max subscribers. Cowork enables users to grant Claude access to a specific folder on their computer, allowing the AI assistant to read, edit, or create files directly. This marks a shift from earlier use cases intended only for developers, opening the door for a wider audience, including non-technical users, to automate file management, document creation, and other productivity tasks.

Cowork introduces an approach where users can delegate multi-step projects to Claude, such as organizing files, extracting data from images, or generating reports from scattered notes. Unlike standard chat-based interactions, Cowork allows users to queue tasks, provide feedback in real time, and leverage skills and connectors for integrating external data or controlling browser-based workflows. Access is currently limited to the macOS platform in the US, with plans to expand to Windows and sync features in the future.

Anthropic, the company behind Claude, has built Cowork upon the same agent foundations as Claude Code, but with additional safety measures and user controls. Users decide which folders or connectors Claude can access, and the assistant will request permission before performing significant actions, such as deleting files. The feature is positioned to appeal to power users and professionals seeking to automate repetitive or complex tasks, while Anthropic continues to gather feedback and address security concerns such as prompt injection risks. Early reactions from users in the developer and productivity communities highlight the potential for broader workplace automation and a new style of AI-assisted workflow management.

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