Anthropic Unveils Cowork Tool for Enhanced Access to Claude Code
In a significant move to broaden accessibility, Anthropic has introduced Cowork, a new tool integrated into the Claude Desktop app that simplifies interaction with their Claude Code product. Announced on Monday, this tool allows users to specify a folder from which Claude can read or alter files, offering instructions through a standard chat interface. Unlike its predecessor, Cowork is designed to operate akin to a user-friendly version of Claude Code, requiring minimal technical expertise to navigate.
Currently available in a research preview, Cowork is exclusive to Max subscribers, although a waitlist is open for users on other subscription plans.
The development of Cowork is partially driven by the increasing trend of subscribers utilizing Claude Code for non-coding tasks, effectively leveraging it as a versatile AI agent. Built on the Claude Agent SDK, Cowork utilizes the same foundational model as Claude Code, ensuring consistent performance. The folder access feature facilitates straightforward file management, eliminating the need for command-line tools or complex virtual environments, thus making it more accessible to those lacking technical backgrounds.
Potential applications for Cowork are extensive. Anthropic illustrates this with a use case involving the assembly of expense reports from receipt photos, while users of Claude Code have also utilized the system for tasks like managing media files, analyzing conversations, and monitoring social media content.
While Cowork aims to execute sequences of actions with minimal user input, it raises concerns regarding the clarity of instructions. Anthropic warns users about risks such as prompt injection and unintended file deletions, advising them to provide explicit and clear commands.
These concerns are not new with Cowork, the company notes, stating, “but it might be the first time you’re using a more advanced tool that moves beyond a simple conversation.”
Originally launched as a command-line tool in November 2024, Claude Code has gained traction, prompting Anthropic to roll out various interfaces in recent months, including a web version in October and a Slack integration shortly thereafter.
