Anthropic has released a mobile companion feature for Claude Cowork, its computer-based AI assistant, allowing users to monitor and direct the tool from their phones. The update matters because it lets people keep track of tasks Claude is carrying out on their computer while away from it, extending the reach of an agent that was previously tied to the desktop. It arrives as part of the company's broader push to make its AI assistant more integrated across devices.

The new Cowork tab appears in the sidebar of the updated Claude app on Android and iOS, though it does not let the agent automate tasks on the phone itself. Cowork can now also run tasks in the background without needing a constant internet connection, and it will send phone notifications when it requires permission, with Anthropic stressing that nothing is finalised until the user approves it. Looking ahead, the company plans to merge Cowork with its chatbot, and to bring its Projects and artifacts features together. Max subscribers get first access, with other plans to follow in the coming weeks.