Anthropic Targets Business Users: Claude Duet Launches to Compete with Meta and OpenAI

The artificial intelligence market is currently saturated with new personal assistants and productivity tools, with fresh launches appearing almost weekly. In response to this intense competition, Anthropic has officially introduced Claude Duet, a new application designed to capture user attention by directly challenging established rivals such as Meta Muse, OpenAI Dots, Hark, Instinct, Grok Bot, and Fo.

Anthropic positions this new agent specifically for professionals and small business owners who need help automating and managing complex tasks. The company draws a clear line between its product and personal agents like Instinct, noting that Duet is not optimized for handling simple errands or booking travel tickets. Furthermore, the application does not provide a live visual feed of its browser activity as it works.

Instead, the system focuses on generating daily briefings, creating custom dashboards, and suggesting specific actions based on the user's existing data. Like other modern agents, Duet operates independently within its own virtual machine. It completes tasks in the background while users attend to other duties, only resurfacing to request approval when necessary.

This launch coincides with a broader industry shift away from simple chatbots toward agents that can actively work on behalf of their users. Many of Anthropic's competitors are prioritizing business use cases. Meta recently released a version of Muse tailored for small businesses with app connections, while OpenAI’s Dots features integrations with professional tools to support its business-focused approach.

The new agent proactively delivers recommendations while monitoring ongoing tasks. It is built on the Claude Opus 5.5 model and can connect to more than 6,000 connectors and plug-ins available in the Claude Marketplace. The system also has the capability to make online purchases on a user's behalf using Stripe’s Link digital wallet or Shopify’s Shop Pay.

To maintain control, Anthropic stated that sensitive steps, particularly payments, will always require explicit user approval. The agent has strict limitations on financial authority; it will not trade securities or move money between different accounts. This design aims to balance automation with user oversight in high-stakes transactions.

Security features are also central to the launch. Anthropic released a new classifier that scans every message to prevent sensitive information from leaking out. By default, the agent is programmed to turn down requests for credit card numbers or government identification documents, adding an extra layer of protection for user data.

Claude Duet is currently available as an app for iOS and Android devices. It is also accessible on the web through Claude.ai for Pro and Max customers who are participating in the research preview. Users interested in testing the new system must join a waitlist to gain access.