Anthropic Launches Claude Duet: A Business-Focused AI Agent

Anthropic has officially introduced Claude Duet, a new artificial intelligence agent designed specifically for professionals and small businesses. The application marks the company’s strategic entry into a crowded market of productivity tools, aiming to compete with established rivals such as Meta Muse, OpenAI Dots, Hark, Instinct, Grok Bot, and Fo. By targeting enterprise workflows, Anthropic seeks to capture user attention in a sector that sees new assistant applications launching on a weekly basis.

The company has drawn a sharp line between Duet and consumer-oriented personal agents. Unlike competitors such as Instinct, Duet is not optimized for handling simple errands, booking tickets, or providing real-time visual feedback of its browser activity. Instead, the agent focuses on automating complex professional tasks, generating daily briefings, and creating custom dashboards based on user data. It operates within a dedicated virtual machine, allowing it to execute tasks in the background while alerting users only when approval is required.

This launch coincides with a broader industry shift from passive AI assistants to active agents capable of working on behalf of users. While Meta’s Muse remains primarily a personal assistant, the company has also rolled out a version tailored for small businesses with enhanced app integrations. Similarly, OpenAI’s Dots emphasizes business utility through its connections to professional software tools. Anthropic positions Duet to align with this business-centric trend, offering proactive recommendations by continuously monitoring ongoing tasks.

Powered by the Claude Opus 5.5 model, Duet boasts extensive connectivity through access to more than 6,000 connectors and plug-ins available in the Claude Marketplace. The agent can also facilitate online purchases using Stripe’s Link digital wallet or Shopify’s Shop Pay. To maintain user control, Anthropic stated that sensitive actions, particularly those involving payments, require explicit user approval. However, the agent is restricted from trading securities or transferring funds between different accounts.

Security measures are a central component of the new release. Anthropic introduced a specialized classifier that scrutinizes every message to prevent the leakage of sensitive information. By default, the system is configured to reject requests asking for credit card numbers or government identification documents, adding an extra layer of protection for business users handling confidential data.

Claude Duet is currently available in research preview for Pro and Max customers via the web interface at Claude.ai. Mobile versions for iOS and Android are also accessible. Due to the preview status, users must join a waitlist to gain access to the platform and test its capabilities.