Anthropic introduces Claude Duet agent for background tasks
The research preview is reaching US Pro and Max subscribers through a waitlist, with background work counting toward existing usage limits.
Anthropic announced Claude Duet on October 21, 2026, introducing an AI agent that it says can handle assignments across connected apps and keep working after users close the app. Access to the research preview is being extended gradually to US subscribers on Pro and Max plans.
Invitations are being distributed through a waitlist. Anthropic says there is no additional charge, although activity—including background tasks—uses subscribers’ existing allowances and could exhaust them faster than chat alone. Team and Enterprise subscriptions are not currently eligible; the company plans to add them later.
According to Anthropic, Duet operates on a cloud-based computer and accepts voice or typed requests. It can review email and calendars, prepare replies, flag matters needing attention and produce files such as presentations or financial models. It shares regular Claude’s memories, skills and connectors, and can search previous conversations.
Anthropic says the agent is designed to request permission before sending messages, making payments, signing documents or deleting material. Stripe integration supports checks for unpaid invoices and the preparation of reminders, while Link and Shop Pay allow purchases with user approval. A cloud browser can access websites without connectors.
A Tasks tab displays ongoing assignments and items requiring attention, according to Duet’s support page. Only users can mark tasks complete. Anthropic says the agent uses Claude Opus 5.5 and is available to invited users through standalone iOS and Android apps and at claude.ai.
