Anthropic launches Claude Duet for business automation

The race to dominate the artificial intelligence assistant market has intensified, with new entrants launching weekly in a crowded landscape. Anthropic has joined this competitive fray with the release of Claude Duet, an application designed to capture user attention by offering a distinct alternative to existing players. The new tool positions itself against a roster of rivals, including Meta Muse, OpenAI Dots, Hark, Instinct, Grok Bot, and Fo, aiming to carve out a specific niche in the rapidly evolving sector.

A primary point of contention in the market is the definition of an 'assistant' versus an 'agent.' Anthropic has explicitly positioned Duet to serve professionals and small businesses, focusing on the automation and management of complex tasks. The company draws a clear line between its product and personal agents like Instinct, noting that Duet is not designed for handling simple errands or booking tickets. Furthermore, the new tool does not display its browser activities in real-time, differentiating its operational transparency from competitors.

Instead of executing immediate, visible actions, Duet emphasizes strategic oversight and data synthesis. The agent is capable of constructing daily briefings, generating custom dashboards, and suggesting specific actions based on a user’s existing data. This approach allows the software to operate as a background worker, utilizing its own virtual machine to complete tasks while the user continues with their day. It will only interrupt the user when a decision is required, requesting approval before proceeding with critical steps.

Contextually, this launch reflects a broader industry shift from passive chatbots to active agents that work on behalf of users. Many of Anthropic’s competitors are now prioritizing business use cases. For instance, while Meta’s Muse serves as a personal assistant, the company has also introduced a version tailored for small businesses with deeper app integrations. Similarly, OpenAI’s Dots maintains a business-oriented focus through its connections with professional tools. Duet enters this space with a similar emphasis on professional utility.

Under the hood, Duet is built on the Claude Opus 5.5 model, which provides the computational foundation for its proactive features. The agent monitors ongoing tasks to deliver recommendations without waiting for user prompts. Its connectivity is extensive, linking to more than 6,000 connectors and plug-ins available in the Claude Marketplace. This infrastructure allows Duet to interact with a wide array of third-party services, enhancing its utility for business workflows.

Financial functionality is a key component of the new release, as Duet can execute online purchases on a user's behalf. It achieves this through integrations with Stripe’s Link digital wallet and Shopify’s Shop Pay. However, the company has implemented safeguards for sensitive actions. While payments require explicit user approval, the agent is restricted in other financial areas; it will not trade securities or transfer funds between different accounts, limiting its scope in complex financial management.

Security and privacy have also been addressed with the introduction of a new classifier. This tool checks every message to prevent the leakage of sensitive information. By default, the agent is programmed to decline requests that ask for credit card numbers or government identification, adding an extra layer of protection for users sharing data with the system.

Claude Duet is currently available as a mobile application for iOS and Android devices. It is also accessible via the web through Claude.ai. Access is initially limited to Pro and Max subscribers who are part of a research preview. To use the service, users must join a waitlist, signaling that Anthropic is rolling out the technology in a controlled manner to manage demand and refine the experience.