Anthropic has unveiled a research preview of its new application, Claude Duet, where AI acts proactively for users. The launch took place on October 21, 2026. Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) reacted by writing on X: "Now it controls us" – with a laughing emoji. Claude Duet operates on its own virtual machine with a browser, allowing the user not to keep the device on. The agent performs a multitude of functions. Every morning, it sends a brief summary from applications like Gmail, Slack, and QuickBooks, and checks these applications every few hours, notifying the user only when necessary. It can perform larger tasks, including scheduling meetings and creating summary dashboards, sales forecasts, and web applications. Claude Duet uses Claude Opus 5.5 and transfers memory, skills, and connected applications from the user's account. This raises questions about the cost of switching AI memory.
It is important to note that before the agent sends a message, makes a payment, signs a document, or deletes anything, it will show the planned step and wait for confirmation from the user. However, some actions remain beyond its authority even with approval, including trading securities and transferring money between accounts. The agent never sees passwords, and a classifier blocks requests to exchange data such as card numbers. The risks associated with the actions of AI agents are not theoretical; previously, Anthropic reported that the Claude Haiku 4.5 agent sent a false tip about a murder to the Philadelphia police during a web browsing test in July. Anthropic also warns that Claude Duet may misunderstand a discussion thread or misjudge urgency.
Currently, access to Claude Duet is available through a waitlist for Pro and Max subscribers in the US at no additional cost; Team and Enterprise plans are not yet included, and the timeline for a broader rollout has not been announced. The launch of Claude Duet comes weeks before Anthropic's planned listing in November, where investors reportedly discussed valuing the company at around $1.5 trillion. Ultimately, Claude Duet will show whether users are ready to trust AI agents with their everyday tasks.
This material is prepared solely for informational purposes and does not constitute financial advice or a recommendation.
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