Anthropic has announced that Claude Cowork, its AI agent for carrying out digital tasks, is expanding beyond the desktop app to run on smartphones and web browsers without requiring an active desktop session. The change matters because it removes the need for users to leave a laptop open to keep the agent running, allowing scheduled tasks to be completed overnight or after working hours. This positions Anthropic alongside rivals in a wider industry push towards always-on, semi-autonomous AI agents.

The revamped Cowork, unveiled on a Tuesday, will roll out first as a beta to subscribers of Anthropic's Max plan, which starts at $100 a month, before reaching the cheaper Pro tier at $20 a month; its availability to free users is unclear. It builds on the earlier Dispatch feature, which let users send tasks from a phone but still required an awake computer with the app open. The move follows the viral rise of OpenClaw, a homebrew agent with a lobster mascot that gained popularity in early 2026, prompting OpenAI to launch Codex and Google to launch Spark. Anthropic also released a report claiming white-collar workers increasingly use Cowork for tasks such as business operations, data reports and content creation.