Anthropic launches Claude Duet to manage multi-step work tasks

From chatbot to proactive agent

Anthropic is moving beyond the traditional chatbot interface with the launch of Claude Duet. Unlike standard models that wait for a specific prompt to generate a response, Duet is designed to be an active participant in a user's daily workflow. It can monitor connected accounts and identify items that require attention without the user initiating every interaction.

The new app functions as a separate entity on mobile and web platforms, though it shares the same subscription limits as the main Claude service. It is built on the Claude Opus 5.5 model and is specifically designed for professionals and small business owners. The goal is to provide a tool that can handle administration, project management, and financial planning across various services.

As EdTech Innovation Hub reported, the product is currently in a research preview phase for users in the United States. This early release allows Anthropic to gather feedback on how the agent handles complex tasks. The company intends to use this data to determine how Duet will eventually integrate with the primary Claude app.

How background automation works

One of the most distinct features of Claude Duet is its ability to work while a user's laptop or phone is turned off. To achieve this, the agent runs through a virtual machine equipped with its own dedicated browser. This setup allows the AI to continue processing multi-step tasks in the background without requiring a constant connection to the user's active device.

The agent performs proactive monitoring by checking connected accounts every few hours. This interval is intentional, as Anthropic notes that more frequent checks would consume the user's subscription usage limits much faster. Each morning, the system prepares a brief summary of information gathered from the user's various connected services.

Users can interact with Duet through a single ongoing conversation using either text or voice. This interface supports both quick requests and long-term projects. When a task is finished or a decision is needed, the agent sends a notification to the user to review the progress or provide the next step.

Connecting to your business tools

Claude Duet is designed to move data and perform actions between different business platforms. It supports more than 6,000 connectors and plugins available through the Claude Marketplace. This allows the agent to perform tasks like reviewing missed messages in Slack, checking unpaid invoices in Stripe, or drafting recruitment posts on LinkedIn.

The agent can also assist with marketing and customer management by connecting to platforms like Canva, Shopify, and HubSpot. It is capable of building dashboards, preparing sales forecasts, and even prototyping web applications. These capabilities are intended to streamline repetitive administrative work for small business owners who manage multiple software tools.

For example, a user might ask the agent to prepare a client briefing or identify calendar conflicts. Because it can see across different apps, it can notice details a human might miss, such as a meeting scheduled immediately before a flight. This proactive identification is a core part of the product's value proposition for busy professionals.

Security and user permissions

Because giving an AI access to multiple business accounts involves significant risks, Anthropic has built in several safety guardrails. The agent is designed to distinguish between tasks it can do independently and actions that require human authorization. For sensitive actions like making payments, signing documents, or deleting information, Duet must present the proposed action to the user for approval first.

Certain high-risk activities are strictly prohibited from being performed by the agent, even if a user gives permission. These include securities trading and transferring money between different accounts. Additionally, the system includes a dedicated check to prevent the disclosure of highly sensitive data like government IDs or credit card numbers.

The credential-handling system ensures that Duet cannot directly access a user's passwords or sign-in tokens. Anthropic also conducted adversarial security testing with an external firm to verify these protections. For business purchases, the agent can use Stripe's digital wallet to generate a virtual payment card only after the user confirms the transaction.

Current limits and next steps

While the research preview offers significant capabilities, Anthropic clarifies that the product is not yet a finished experience. The agent can sometimes misinterpret conversations or incorrectly judge the urgency of a task. Furthermore, personal errands like booking travel tickets are currently less developed than the agent's work-related functions.

Users should be aware that Duet shares the same usage limits as their existing Claude subscription. Complex work, such as creating financial models or presentations, will consume these limits more quickly because they require more model activity. Currently, the app remains separate from the main Claude interface while the company gathers feedback.

The research preview is currently limited to US-based Pro and Max subscribers who register through a waitlist. Anthropic has not yet announced a timeline for expanding access to other regions or for full integration into the main app. The company plans to use the feedback from these early testers to shape the future of the product.