Anthropic launches Claude Cowork, a model of its coding AI for normal folks

For those who comply with Anthropic, you are most likely aware of Claude Code. Since the fall of 2024, the corporate has been coaching its AI fashions to make use of and navigate computer systems like a human would, and the coding agent has been essentially the most sensible expression of that work, giving builders a strategy to automate rote programming duties. Beginning immediately, Anthropic is giving common folks a strategy to make the most of these capabilities, with the discharge of a brand new preview function known as Claude Cowork.

The corporate is billing Cowork as “an easier method for anybody — not simply builders — to work with Claude.” After you give the system entry to a folder in your laptop, it could actually learn, edit or create new recordsdata in that folder in your behalf.

Anthropic provides a number of completely different instance use circumstances for Cowork. As an illustration, you possibly can ask Claude to prepare your downloads folder, telling it to rename the recordsdata contained inside to one thing that is simpler to parse at a look. One other instance: you possibly can use Claude to show screenshots of receipts and invoices right into a spreadsheet for monitoring bills. Cowork also can navigate web sites — supplied you put in Claude’s Chrome plugin — and make can use Anthropic’s Connectors framework to entry third-party apps like Canva.

“Cowork is designed to make utilizing Claude for brand new work so simple as doable. You don’t have to hold manually offering context or changing Claude’s outputs into the suitable format,” the corporate mentioned. “Nor do it’s a must to look forward to Claude to complete earlier than providing additional concepts or suggestions: you’ll be able to queue up duties and let Claude work by them in parallel.”

If the thought of granting Claude entry to your laptop sounds ill-advised, Anthropic says Claude “can’t learn or edit something you don’t give it express entry to.” Nonetheless, the corporate does note the system can “take probably damaging actions,” akin to deleting a file that’s vital to you or misinterpreting your directions. For that motive, Anthropic suggests it is best to offer “very clear” steering to Claude.

Anthropic isn’t the primary to supply a pc agent. Microsoft, for instance, has been pushing Copilot onerous for almost three years, regardless of seemingly limited adoption. For Anthropic, the problem will likely be convincing folks these instruments are helpful the place others have failed. The actual fact Claude Code has been universally cherished by programmers might make that activity simpler.

Anthropic briefly made Cowork preview solely obtainable to customers of its expensive Claude Max subscription. That modified on Friday when the corporate expanded entry to incorporate clients of its $20 monthly Professional plan. If you wish to attempt Cowork for your self, you will want a Mac with the Claude macOS app put in.

Replace 01/16/26 2:30PM ET: Up to date to replicate Claude Cowork is now additionally obtainable to Claude Professional clients.