Anthropic Opens a Preview of Claude Duet, an App It Says Acts Without Being Asked

Anthropic opened a research preview of Claude Duet on Oct. 21, 2026, a separate app the company's release notes describe as "a new app where Claude works as a proactive agent." It is reaching users by waitlist, and only subscribers on the paid Pro and Max plans in the United States can join.

In its announcement, Anthropic says it built the app for professionals and small business owners with more to track than they can manage. By the company's account, it sends a short brief each morning on items across a user's connected accounts, then messages the user during the day only when something needs attention. Every description of what the app does is Anthropic's own.

Anthropic says Claude Duet runs as a standalone app on iOS, Android and claude.ai, and is designed around its Claude Opus 5.5 model. The company says it can use the more than 6,000 connectors and plugins in the Claude Marketplace, among them Gmail, Slack, QuickBooks, Stripe and Shopify. Anthropic also says that the app has its own virtual machine with a browser, so work continues when a user's phone and laptop are off, and that it checks connected accounts every few hours rather than constantly.

Before the app sends a message, makes a payment, signs a document or deletes anything, Anthropic says it shows the user what it is about to do and waits for approval. Trading securities and moving money between accounts stay off-limits even with approval, according to the company.

Anthropic calls this an early version that may misread a thread or misjudge what is urgent, and says it cannot yet show a user its browser. Claude Duet draws on the same usage limits as the rest of Claude during the preview, and its background checks count against them.