Anthropic announced an update to its Claude Code and Claude Cowork tools, enabling them to execute tasks using users’ computers. This capability is currently in research preview and is available exclusively to Claude Pro and Claude Max subscribers on macOS. Claude Cowork, which was introduced in January, is designed for casual users and serves as an iteration of the Claude Code AI agent aimed at programmers.
The new features include the ability to open files, use web browsers, and run development tools. When the feature is enabled, Claude AI will prioritize connections to supported services like the Google Workspace suite and Slack. If a connection to a supported service is not available, Claude will still perform assigned tasks. Anthropic stated that Claude will ask for permission before performing any actions on the user’s computer and advised against using this feature for handling sensitive information as a precaution.
The computer use feature will continue to evolve based on user feedback during its research preview phase. This update marks a significant development for Anthropic, potentially expanding the utility of its AI tools for users who rely on integrated solutions across various platforms.
