TL;DR
Anthropic introduced Claude Cowork, a research-preview feature that lets Claude access a user-designated folder to read, edit, and create files. It’s available today only in the Claude macOS app for Claude Max subscribers, a paid tier priced between $100 and $200 per month.
What happened
Anthropic rolled out "Claude Cowork" as a research preview aimed at expanding the company’s AI agent functionality beyond developer-focused tooling. Cowork allows users to grant Claude access to a folder on their computer so the model can perform file-level tasks — for instance, reorganizing downloads, extracting expenses from screenshots into a spreadsheet, or assembling a draft report from scattered notes. The system supplies ongoing status updates while working and supports queued tasks that Claude can execute in parallel. Users can also connect Cowork to external services through existing integrations (examples named include Asana, Notion and PayPal) and link it with Claude’s Chrome extension for browser-related operations. Anthropic positions Cowork as overlapping with capabilities of Claude Code but designed to be more approachable for non-coding workflows. The company says the release is a research preview so it can observe usage and iterate.
Why it matters
- Moves Claude into direct file- and workflow-level automation on users’ local machines.
- Targets non-developers by offering agent features in a more accessible format than code-focused tools.
- Integrations with third-party services could let Claude connect local work with cloud apps and payments.
- Anthropic is testing the feature as a research preview, indicating further development will depend on user feedback.
Key facts
- Feature name: Claude Cowork.
- Released as a research preview on Jan. 12, 2026.
- Availability: only via Claude’s macOS app (per the source).
- Access: users grant the chatbot permission to a folder so it can read, edit, or create files.
- Use-case examples provided: reorganize downloads, create a spreadsheet of expenses from screenshots, draft a report from scattered notes.
- Supports connectors to external services, with Asana, Notion and PayPal cited as examples.
- Can be linked to Claude in Chrome to handle browser-related tasks.
- Designed to handle many of the same tasks as Claude Code but in a form aimed at non-coding users.
- Offered only to Claude Max subscribers; Anthropic’s power-user tier is priced between $100 and $200 per month depending on usage.
What to watch next
- Whether Anthropic expands Cowork beyond the macOS app and the Claude Max tier: not confirmed in the source.
- Any announced privacy, security, or data-handling safeguards for local file access: not confirmed in the source.
- Potential changes to pricing, availability, or supported connectors as the research preview proceeds: not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Research preview: An early release of a product or feature intended to gather user feedback and guide further development.
- AI agent: A system that performs tasks autonomously or semi-autonomously on behalf of a user, often by interacting with data and other services.
- Connector: A software integration that allows an application to exchange data or interact with third-party services such as productivity tools or payment platforms.
- macOS app: A software application built to run on Apple’s macOS operating system for Mac computers.
Reader FAQ
Who can use Claude Cowork today?
It’s available in the Claude macOS app for subscribers to the Claude Max power-user tier, which the source says costs $100–$200 per month depending on usage.
What types of tasks can Cowork do?
According to Anthropic, Cowork can read, edit, and create files in a granted folder to perform tasks such as reorganizing downloads, compiling spreadsheets from screenshots, and drafting reports from notes.
Does Cowork connect to external services?
Yes—Anthropic says users can use existing connectors to link Cowork to third-party services like Asana, Notion, and PayPal, and can connect it to Claude in Chrome for browser tasks.
Is Cowork available on Windows or the web?
Not confirmed in the source.
AI NEWS ANTHROPIC Anthropic wants you to use Claude to ‘Cowork’ in latest AI agent push The new feature debuted today in research preview. by Hayden Field Jan 12, 2026,…
Sources
- Anthropic wants you to use Claude to ‘Cowork’ in latest AI agent push
- Claude Cowork automates complex tasks for you now
- Anthropic launches a Claude AI agent that lives in Chrome
- How AI Is Transforming Work at Anthropic
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