Anthropic is introducing Claude Duet,

a new AI agent designed to handle work across connected apps in the background, even when your computer or phone is turned off. The product is launching as a research preview for eligible Claude Pro and Max subscribers in the United States.

Unlike a conventional chatbot that waits for prompts, Claude Duet is designed to carry out tasks independently. Users describe what they need in a short message, and the agent determines which connected apps to use, performs the necessary steps, and sends a notification when the task is complete or requires attention.

Claude Duet Runs on Its Own Cloud Computer

One of Claude Duet’s defining features is its dedicated virtual machine, complete with a browser running in the cloud. This allows the agent to continue working without relying on the user’s device being powered on or connected.

According to Anthropic, Claude Duet is built around Claude Opus 5.5 and can review information from connected applications to prepare a short morning briefing. It also checks connected accounts periodically throughout the day, helping it balance background activity against the usage limits included in the user’s subscription.

The idea is to reduce the need to repeatedly open applications, search through messages, and manually coordinate everyday work. Instead, users can delegate a task and return when the agent has made progress or needs a decision.

How Claude Duet Handles Tasks

Claude Duet is designed to determine the steps required to complete a request rather than simply responding with instructions.

For example, a user might ask it to review information across connected work apps and prepare a summary. The agent can identify the relevant services, gather information, and work through the task in the background.

Anthropic says the app can also carry out actions that require additional oversight. Before sending a message, making a payment, signing a document, or deleting something, Claude Duet presents the proposed action and waits for user approval.

This approval process is an important distinction between delegating work to an AI agent and giving it unrestricted control over personal or professional accounts.

Privacy and Security Protections

Giving an AI agent access to multiple applications introduces significant security considerations. Anthropic says Claude Duet runs approvals, logins, and safety checks inside the user’s cloud computer. Its credential-handling approach is designed to prevent the agent from directly seeing passwords or sign-in tokens.

The company has also introduced a classifier and safety system prompt to screen messages. According to Anthropic, requests involving highly sensitive information, such as credit card numbers and government identification, are designed to be rejected. Other sensitive details, including health information and personal finances, may be shared only when the user has explicitly authorized the action.

Some financial activities remain prohibited even with approval. Claude Duet cannot trade securities or transfer money between accounts, according to the company.

Anthropic says the product has undergone red-team testing and external penetration testing, and is covered by its public bug bounty program. Users can also disconnect applications they no longer want the agent to access.

These safeguards are important, although they do not eliminate every risk associated with automated access to personal information and connected services.

What Are Claude Duet’s Limitations?

Despite its promise, Claude Duet is still an early-stage product, and Anthropic acknowledges several limitations.

The agent may misunderstand a conversation, misjudge which information is urgent, or miss something that arrives between its periodic checks. It also cannot yet show users its browser while working, making it harder to observe exactly what is happening during a task.

Personal errands, such as booking tickets, are also less reliable than work-related tasks at this stage.

Usage limits are another consideration. Claude Duet shares the subscriber’s existing Claude plan limits, and background checks count toward those limits. More demanding projects, such as preparing a financial model or building a presentation, can require considerably more processing and model interactions.

These constraints mean that Claude Duet is better viewed as an assistant for delegated work than as a fully autonomous replacement for human oversight.

Availability: Who Can Try Claude Duet?

Claude Duet is available through a waitlist-based research preview for Claude Pro and Max subscribers in the United States. The standalone app is available for iOS and Android, while desktop users can access it through the web at claude.ai.

The experience is separate from the main Claude app, but setup carries over existing memory, skills, and connected applications from the user’s Claude account. Team and Enterprise plans are not included in the initial preview.

Availability may expand as Anthropic evaluates the product and develops its capabilities.

Can Claude Duet Change How People Use AI?

Claude Duet points toward a shift from conversational AI to AI agents that can carry out multi-step tasks in the background. Rather than asking a chatbot for advice and then doing the work manually, users can delegate a request and let an agent coordinate the necessary steps.

Its cloud-based architecture is particularly useful because tasks can continue even when a user’s devices are offline. Combined with connected apps, scheduled briefings, and approval checkpoints, this approach could make AI more practical for managing busy workflows.

However, reliability, privacy, subscription usage limits, and the need for human approval will determine how useful the product becomes in everyday situations.

For now, Claude Duet is an early look at Anthropic’s vision for a more proactive AI assistant. Its research preview will help establish whether background agents can save users meaningful time without introducing too much complexity or risk.

Sources: Anthropic’s Claude Duet announcement and official Claude Duet product page.