Anthropic debuts Cowork, an AI agent for everyday computing tasks
What's the story
Anthropic has launched a new feature called Cowork, designed to simplify general office work. The innovative tool is built on the same technology as Claude Code and integrated into the macOS desktop app. It allows users to give Claude access to specific folders on their computers and provide simple instructions for tasks like filling out expense reports or writing reports from digital notes.
User accessibility
Cowork's goal: Simplifying complex tasks for all users
Anthropic's main aim with Cowork is to make it accessible for all knowledge workers, from developers to marketers. The company started working on this feature after observing that people were already using Claude Code for general knowledge work tasks. Despite some similarities with Claude Code, Cowork is designed to be more user-friendly, requiring less technical know-how and allowing users to make new requests or amendments before completing the initial task.
Feature functionality
Cowork's capabilities and potential risks
Cowork can now be used as a research preview by Max subscribers. It lets users give Claude access to specific folders on their computers, and can be modified to use connectors, skills, and Google Chrome. However, Anthropic has warned that vague instructions could lead to destructive actions like deleting local files. The company also acknowledged the risk of prompt injection attacks with this new feature.
Release details
Cowork's initial release and future improvements
Anthropic is releasing Cowork as a research preview for Claude Max subscribers. The company plans to use early feedback to improve the tool in the future, including cross-device capabilities, Windows availability, and enhanced safety features. Despite its potential risks, Cowork represents Anthropic's continued efforts to expand its AI tools beyond their traditional user base of coders and businesses.