Claude Duet gives professionals and small business owners a way to delegate recurring digital work while retaining approval over sensitive actions. The research preview uses Claude Opus 5.5, runs through its own cloud computer and can continue working after a user closes a personal device.
Anthropic opened the waitlist on October 21, 2026, for US Claude Pro and Max subscribers. Early access is rolling out in stages, while the company continues testing how accurately the agent prioritizes information and decides when a person needs to be involved.
How can Claude Duet support business work?
Claude Duet is designed as a proactive agent rather than a system that waits for every instruction. It checks connected apps every few hours, sends a morning brief about priority items and contacts the user when something needs attention. Users can communicate by typing or voice in one continuing conversation.
The agent can handle administrative work such as meeting scheduling as well as larger assignments such as dashboards, financial and sales forecasts, prototypes and web apps. Because it operates in a virtual machine with its own browser, it can run these tasks without the user’s laptop or phone remaining switched on. A notification appears when background work is complete or ready for review.
Anthropic said Claude Duet may still misread a conversation or judge urgency incorrectly during the early preview. Its core functions focus on work, while personal errands such as booking tickets are less developed. The preview also does not yet show users its browser as it works.
Which business tools can Claude Duet connect to?
Claude Duet carries over compatible memory, skills, connected apps and other settings from a user’s Claude account. It can work with more than 6,000 connectors and plugins available through the Claude Marketplace, including business services for communication, accounting, payroll, sales, documents, design and commerce.
- Gmail and Slack: Find missed messages and help prepare replies.
- Intuit QuickBooks and Stripe: Look for unpaid invoices and draft reminders.
- Gusto: Help prepare and run payroll with hours, bonuses and reimbursements entered.
- LinkedIn: Draft a job posting for editing and approval before publication.
- DocuSign: Prepare agreements and send them for review and signature.
- HubSpot: Draft follow-up emails using available contact and deal history.
- Canva: Turn a product launch into a social campaign.
- Shopify: Set up, design and help manage an online store.
A richer Shopify visual editor is planned, with design and storefront previews before changes go live. Anthropic also plans to let Claude Duet use credentials saved in 1Password to sign in to supported sites after receiving permission.
What approval is required before Claude Duet acts?
Claude Duet can read information, prepare drafts and assemble work independently, but it asks the user to approve actions that create an external effect. Before sending a message, making a payment, signing a document or deleting information, it displays the proposed action and waits for approval.
Some actions remain unavailable even with approval, including trading securities and moving money between accounts. Users can also disconnect any connected app.
For business purchases, Claude Duet can use Link, Stripe’s digital wallet. Link confirms the item and spending amount with the user, requests approval, and then pays with a virtual card so the user’s actual card number is not shared. The service can also check out through Shop Pay at participating online stores.
How does Claude Duet protect connected information?
Anthropic says Claude Duet does not directly receive users’ passwords or sign-in tokens. Its credential handling follows the design used for Claude Managed Agents. An automated mode classifier reviews proposed actions to help prevent activity the user did not request.
The company also applies defenses against hidden instructions and prompt injection developed through its browser-use research. Red teams, an external penetration-testing firm and Anthropic’s public bug bounty program are involved in testing the security infrastructure.
A dedicated classifier and safety system prompt inspect each message. The system is designed to reject requests for the most restricted information, including credit card numbers and government identification. Information involving health or personal finances is permitted only when the user explicitly instructs Claude Duet to send it. Anthropic said it will continue developing these protections.
What are the research preview limits?
Claude Duet is included in Claude Pro and Max plans during the preview and draws from the same usage allowances as the rest of Claude. Agent activity consumes those allowances differently from an ordinary conversation. Background checks also count toward usage, while larger assignments such as financial models and presentations require more model turns and background work.
Claude Duet checks connected accounts every few hours rather than continuously, because nonstop checks would consume plan allowances more quickly. Users can specify what they want to hear about and how often they receive updates.
The standalone preview is available on iOS, Android and claude.ai. Its initial release is limited to US Pro and Max subscribers who join the waitlist. Anthropic expects feedback from early users to influence how Claude Duet and the main Claude app work together later.
What to do now
- Review recurring work: List short messages, reporting, scheduling and other business tasks that currently depend on checking several apps.
- Start with one controlled task: Choose work that produces a draft or report for review before any message, payment, signature or deletion occurs.
- Check connection permissions: Connect only the services needed for that task, and learn how to remove access from an app when it is no longer required.
- Set update preferences: Choose which subjects Claude Duet should bring forward and how often it should check connected accounts.
- Track usage during the preview: Consider plan limits before assigning large jobs such as forecasts, web apps or dashboards.
FAQ
What is Claude Duet?
Claude Duet is a proactive agent built around Claude Opus 5.5. It can monitor connected apps, provide morning briefs, perform background tasks and continue working through its own virtual machine.
Does Claude Duet ask before sending messages or spending money?
Yes. Claude Duet asks for approval before it sends a message, makes a payment, signs a document or deletes information. Purchases through Link also require spending approval and use a virtual card.
Who can join the Claude Duet research preview?
The preview is rolling out by waitlist to Claude Pro and Max subscribers in the US. Access is included in those plans and shares the same usage limits as the rest of Claude.
Related coverage
- Anthropic Releases Claude Opus 4.7 With Extended Reasoning and Agent-Ready Architecture – BizScoreAI
- No Designer Needed: Claude Design Lets Any Business Create Pro Visuals Instantly – BizScoreAI
- Anthropic launches Claude for Small Business
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