Anthropic Launches Claude Duet to Target Professionals and Small Businesses

The market for artificial intelligence companions is currently saturated, with new productivity tools and personal assistants debuting on a weekly basis. In this competitive landscape, Anthropic has officially entered the fray with the launch of Claude Duet, a new application designed to capture user attention by competing directly against established players like Meta Muse, OpenAI Dots, Hark, Instinct, Grok Bot, and Fo.

The company has positioned Duet specifically for professionals and small business owners, emphasizing its utility in managing and automating complex workflows. Anthropic draws a clear line between this new tool and personal agents like Instinct, noting that Duet is not intended for handling personal errands or booking travel tickets. Furthermore, the agent does not provide a live view of its browser activity, a feature users might expect from more consumer-focused assistants.

Instead of simple chat interactions, Duet is built to construct daily briefings, generate data dashboards, and propose specific actions based on the user’s existing information. Operating within its own virtual machine, the agent can execute tasks in the background while the user focuses on other duties. It will only interrupt the user to request approval when necessary, allowing for a more hands-off management style.

This release coincides with a broader industry shift from passive AI assistants to active agents capable of executing work on behalf of users. Many of Anthropic’s competitors are currently prioritizing these business use cases. For instance, while Meta’s Muse functions as a personal assistant, the company has also released a version tailored for small businesses with app integrations. Similarly, OpenAI’s Dots incorporates a business-oriented design through its connections to professional software.

Duet leverages the Claude Opus 5.5 model to deliver proactive recommendations while monitoring ongoing projects. The platform boasts access to more than 6,000 connectors and plug-ins available in the Claude Marketplace, significantly expanding its operational scope. Additionally, the agent can facilitate online purchases using Stripe’s Link digital wallet or Shopify’s Shop Pay, though sensitive transactions require explicit user consent. Anthropic has clarified that Duet will not trade securities or transfer funds between bank accounts.

To address security concerns, the company introduced a new classifier that scans each message to prevent the leakage of sensitive data. By default, Duet is programmed to decline requests involving credit card numbers or government identification documents. This layer of security is designed to build trust among professional users who handle confidential information.

Claude Duet is currently available for iOS and Android devices, as well as on the web via Claude.ai for Pro and Max subscribers. The tool is in a research preview phase, and interested users must join a waitlist to gain access to the platform.