Anthropic’s Cowork arrives as a research preview that extends Claude’s agent-style workflow beyond code, bringing a folder-level, file-editing capability to the macOS app for Claude Max subscribers.
What Cowork does
Cowork lets Claude access a chosen folder on the local machine so it can read, edit, or create files inside that space. Practical examples highlighted include reorganizing a downloads folder by sorting and renaming files, extracting expenses from screenshots into a spreadsheet, or drafting a report from scattered notes. The interaction model shifts from back-and-forth chat to an agent that makes a plan and executes multi-step tasks, reporting progress and asking for approvals at key moments.
How it works and extensions
Cowork builds on the same foundations as Claude Code and the Claude Agent SDK, so the behavior will feel familiar to those who used agent workflows for development tasks. Beyond local file access, Cowork can be extended with existing connectors to external data sources and an initial set of skills aimed at improving document, presentation, and file creation. Pairing Cowork with Claude in Chrome enables tasks that require browser access. Download of the macOS client is available via the macOS app page.
Control and safety
Access is explicit: Claude only sees folders and connectors that are granted. The agent will ask before taking significant actions, which preserves oversight while allowing autonomous progress. Important caveats noted include the possibility of destructive file operations (for example, deletion) if instructions are ambiguous, and the risk of prompt injections from adversarial content encountered during tasks. Anthropic points to defenses already in place and recommends cautious use; further guidance is available in the Help Center.
Availability and roadmap
Cowork is a research preview accessible now to Claude Max subscribers through the macOS app (select “Cowork” in the sidebar). Others may join the waitlist for future access. Planned improvements mentioned include cross-device sync, Windows support, and ongoing safety enhancements as the preview gathers user feedback.
Original source: http://claude.com/blog/cowork-research-preview?