Anthropic Launches a Work-Focused AI That Handles Your Busywork

The artificial intelligence landscape is currently saturated with new personal assistants and productivity tools that seem to appear weekly. Anthropic is now entering this crowded market with a specific strategy. The company has introduced Claude Duet, an application designed to compete with established names like Meta Muse, OpenAI Dots, Hark, Instinct, Grok Bot, and Fo. The primary goal is to capture the attention of users who are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of these new options.

The new tool is built for professionals and small businesses rather than general consumers. Anthropic is drawing a clear line between its product and personal agents like Instinct. They note that Duet is not the right choice for booking tickets or running simple errands. It also does not display its browsing activity in real-time. Instead, the system focuses on building daily briefings, creating data dashboards, and suggesting actions based on your specific information.

The agent operates by completing tasks in the background using its own virtual machine. This allows users to focus on other activities while the software works. It will only interrupt the user when it needs approval to move forward. This approach aligns with a broader market shift away from basic chatbots toward autonomous agents that can work on a user's behalf. Many rivals are making similar moves, with Meta offering a business-focused version of Muse and OpenAI emphasizing professional tool integration with Dots.

Anthropic claims that Duet proactively delivers recommendations while monitoring ongoing tasks. It is powered by the Claude Opus 5.5 model. The platform connects to more than 6,000 connectors and plug-ins available in the Claude Marketplace. For financial tasks, the agent can make online purchases using Stripe’s Link digital wallet or Shopify’s Shop Pay. However, sensitive steps like payments always require user approval. The system is not designed to trade securities or move money between bank accounts.

To protect user data, the company released a new classifier that checks every message. This feature is designed to prevent sensitive information from leaking out. By default, the agent will turn down requests that ask for credit card numbers or government identification documents. This added layer of security is crucial as the tool gains access to more of a user's digital life.

Claude Duet is currently available as an app for iOS and Android devices. It is also accessible on the web through Claude.ai. The service is in a research preview stage and is available to Pro and Max customers. To try the new agent, users must join a waitlist.