Claude Cowork is an AI agent from Anthropic that carries out multi-step office tasks. An AI agent is a program built on a large language model that plans steps and uses tools on its own, instead of only answering in chat. Cowork works in the folders and tools a user chooses and delivers work for review, such as a deck, a spreadsheet or a research memo. On 16 September 2026 Anthropic began merging Cowork and chat into one Claude, first on the Pro and Max plans.
A user describes the result, not the steps. Cowork shows each step it takes, splits large projects into parallel parts, and keeps working after the laptop is closed; tasks can be scheduled daily, weekly or monthly. It reaches outside data through connectors, uses a built-in browser in its side panel to read sites and fill forms, and can be extended with plugins that bundle skills, connectors and sub-agents. Users choose what it may access, and deleting anything needs their approval. It runs on web, desktop and mobile.
Cowork needs a paid Claude subscription; the Pro plan also includes Claude Code.