Anthropic's Claude Evolves: From Chatbot to Unseen Colleague

In a move that redefines the role of artificial intelligence in the workplace, Anthropic has upgraded its Claude assistant to perform jobs on its own. The new Claude Cowork feature, launched in mid-2025, allows the AI to manage recurring duties—like compiling weekly reports or tracking competitor data—without a person having to start the process each time.

This shift positions Claude not merely as a tool for conversation, but as a persistent operational asset. It can now be scheduled to execute multi-step workflows, drawing on its ability to use software and browse the web. The AI remembers its instructions across sessions, operating on a set timetable as a background process.

The development is Anthropic's direct entry into the competitive field of enterprise automation, where giants like Microsoft with its Copilot and Google with Gemini agents are already embedding AI into their office software suites. Claude’s strategy differs by not being tied to one vendor's ecosystem. Instead, it functions as a general-purpose agent that can connect to various tools, potentially appealing to businesses using a mix of software providers.

In practice, a user could instruct Claude to draft daily email updates, summarize analytics, or watch for website changes. The system is designed with safeguards; if it encounters a problem, it can pause and ask for human input, reflecting Anthropic's stated focus on safety.

This evolution from a reactive chatbot to an initiating agent raises practical questions about responsibility and security when handling business data. Available to paid subscribers, Claude Cowork represents the industry's broader push to sell AI as a measurable productivity tool. As these digital employees become more capable, they are quietly changing what it means to get work done.