Anthropic launches Claude Cowork, a version of its coding AI for regular people (www.engadget.com)

Anthropic has announced the launch of Claude Cowork, a new feature that democratizes its coding AI, Claude Code, making it accessible to non-developers. Since late 2024, Anthropic has been refining its AI to intuitively interact with computers, and Claude Cowork allows users to grant the AI access to specific folders on their devices. Once given permission, Cowork can read, edit, and create files autonomously, streamlining tasks like organizing downloads or converting screenshots of receipts into spreadsheets. It also facilitates web navigation via a Chrome plugin and can integrate with third-party apps through its Connectors framework. The significance of Claude Cowork lies in its potential to transform how everyday users engage with AI, aiming to enhance productivity without requiring deep technical knowledge. By enabling users to queue up tasks for the AI to manage in parallel and simplifying the input process, Anthropic hopes to overcome the adoption hurdles faced by similar tools, like Microsoft’s Copilot. Currently, access is limited to Claude Max subscribers with Mac systems, underlining a strategic positioning for early adopters while the company navigates user trust and usability challenges as it seeks to expand its appeal beyond programmers.