The Claude Duet AI agent is Anthropic’s new app for managing ongoing work at small businesses and professional teams. Announced Oct. 21, the service prepares daily briefings, monitors connected applications and completes tasks in the background.
Powered by Claude Opus 5.5, Claude Duet can create dashboards, draft documents and recommend actions based on user data. Unlike conventional chatbots, it proactively identifies tasks that need attention and requests approval for sensitive decisions.
How the Claude Duet AI Agent Handles Background Tasks
Claude Duet runs on its own cloud-based virtual machine, so work continues after users close the app. It can access more than 6,000 connectors and plugins through the Claude Marketplace.
The agent checks connected services periodically and delivers updates when something needs attention. Users can assign tasks such as scheduling meetings, preparing financial reports or managing business workflows.
The launch builds on Anthropic’s earlier expansion of Claude Cowork across mobile and web platforms. However, Duet focuses more on proactive assistance than on user-directed task execution.
Competition includes Meta’s Muse for Small Business and OpenAI Dots. Both offer connected applications and background task management, reflecting growing competition in autonomous workplace software.
Security Controls, Payments and Limitations
Claude Duet supports purchases through Stripe’s Link digital wallet and Shopify’s Shop Pay. Users must approve payments before transactions proceed. The agent also requires authorization before sending messages, signing documents or deleting information.
Anthropic says Duet cannot trade securities or transfer money between accounts, even with user approval.
The company also introduced a safety classifier to reduce exposure of sensitive information. It is designed to reject requests involving credit card numbers and government identification. Other sensitive information requires explicit user authorization before sharing.
These safeguards do not eliminate every risk associated with autonomous agents. Connected applications may contain confidential business information, making permissions and approval controls important.
Anthropic acknowledged that Duet may misinterpret messages or incorrectly prioritize tasks during its research preview. Personal errands, including ticket bookings, are not its primary strength. Users also cannot watch its browser activity live.
Claude Duet is available through standalone iOS and Android apps and the web at Claude.ai. The research preview initially targets U.S. Pro and Max subscribers, who must join a waitlist. Its background activity counts toward existing Claude plan usage limits.
