Agents: Anthropic's push for the automated enterprise

The market for autonomous software is moving quickly, and Anthropic has released a new tool designed to automate business workflows.

The company's latest release is Claude Duet, an agent intended to compete with other tools like Meta Muse, OpenAI Dots, Hark, Instinct, Grok Bot, and Fo. Anthropic states that the product is designed for professionals and small businesses who want to automate and manage tasks.

Duet operates by building daily briefings, creating dashboards, and suggesting actions based on a user's data. The agent can execute tasks in the background using its own virtual machine, returning to the user for approval when necessary. Anthropic distinguishes this product from personal assistants, noting that Duet is not designed for errands like booking tickets or showing browser activity as it happens.

The timeline of this launch reflects a broader shift in the AI market. The industry is moving beyond simple AI assistants toward agents capable of working on a user's behalf. Many of Anthropic's competitors are also targeting business use cases. Meta released Muse as a personal assistant but also provided a version for small businesses connected to other applications. OpenAI's Dots also includes integration with professional tools.

Duet is built on the Claude Opus 5.5 model. It can connect to over 6,000 connectors and plug-ins available in the Claude Marketplace. The agent can also make online purchases for users using Stripe's Link digital wallet or Shopify's Shop Pay.

Regarding financial security, the company states that sensitive steps, such as payments, require user approval. Duet will not trade securities or move money between accounts. Anthropic has also released a new classifier to check messages and prevent sensitive information from leaking. By default, the agent will decline requests for credit card numbers and government identification.

Claude Duet is available as an app on iOS and Android, and on the web through Claude.ai for Pro and Max customers in research preview. Users must join a waitlist to try the tool.