The research preview is currently limited to macOS devices.
Anthropic has updated Claude to perform tasks autonomously in its Code and Cowork AI tools by using your computer for you. The new feature allows automatic opening of files, usage of web browsers and apps, and running dev tools “with no setup required,” even when you’re away from your computer, according to Anthropic’s announcement.
These new capabilities are available as a research preview for Claude Pro and Max subscribers and are currently limited to macOS, according to Anthropic. The feature builds on autonomous capabilities introduced with Claude’s 3.5 Sonnet AI model in 2024 and now extends to the chatbot’s Code and Cowork AI agents for programmers.
To access the feature, the Claude desktop app must be running on a supported macOS device and paired with the chatbot’s mobile app. The update prioritizes connectors to supported services like Slack and Google Workspace apps but can still execute tasks without a connector by directly controlling your browser, mouse, keyboard, and display. Anthropic states that Claude will “always ask for your explicit permission” before performing actions like exploring, scrolling, and clicking to complete tasks.
The feature works particularly well with Dispatch, according to Anthropic — a cross-device feature that lets you assign tasks to the Claude desktop app from your phone — but it may not always work flawlessly. “Complex tasks sometimes need a second try, and working through your screen is slower than using a direct integration,” the company said in its announcement blog. “We’re sharing it early because we want to learn where it works and where it falls short.”