Anthropic Launches Cowork, a User-Friendly Version of Claude Code
Key Points
- Anthropic released Cowork, a folder‑based AI tool integrated into Claude Desktop.
- Cowork lets the AI read, create, and modify files in a user‑selected folder via chat prompts.
- The tool is in research preview and currently limited to Max subscribers, with a waitlist for other users.
- Use cases include generating expense reports from receipt photos and managing media files.
- Cowork uses the same Claude Agent SDK as Claude Code, enabling autonomous action strings.
- Anthropic warns about prompt injection and stresses the need for clear, unambiguous instructions.
- The design removes the need for command‑line setup, targeting non‑technical users.
Anthropic introduced Cowork, a new tool that brings the capabilities of Claude Code to a broader audience through a simple folder‑based interface. Integrated into the Claude Desktop app, Cowork lets users designate a folder for the AI to read and modify files, with instructions given via the regular chat window. The feature is currently in a research preview and is limited to Max subscribers, though a waitlist exists for other plans. Anthropic highlighted use cases such as assembling expense reports from receipt photos and warned users about potential risks like prompt injection and ambiguous commands.
Overview
Anthropic announced a new tool called Cowork, designed to make the advanced functionalities of Claude Code accessible to users without deep technical expertise. The tool is built into the Claude Desktop application and operates by allowing a user to specify a particular folder. Within this folder, the AI can read existing files, create new ones, or modify content based on instructions supplied through the standard chat interface. This design creates a sandboxed environment reminiscent of Claude Code but eliminates the need for command‑line tools, virtual environments, or other complex setup steps.
Availability and Access
Cowork is currently offered as a research preview. At present, it is available only to users who subscribe to Anthropic’s Max plan. For users on other subscription tiers, Anthropic has opened a waitlist, indicating an intention to broaden access over time.
Key Features and Use Cases
The folder‑based approach gives users straightforward control over which files the AI can access, reducing the risk of unintended data exposure. Anthropic cited examples such as automatically assembling an expense report from a folder containing receipt photos. Other reported uses of Claude Code that inspired Cowork include managing media files, scanning social‑media posts, and analyzing conversation transcripts. By leveraging the same underlying Claude Agent SDK as Claude Code, Cowork can execute strings of actions without continuous user input, enabling more autonomous workflows.
Safety Considerations
Anthropic emphasized that, while Cowork introduces convenience, it also carries the same safety considerations inherent to advanced agentic AI tools. The company warned about the possibility of prompt injection attacks and the dangers of vague or contradictory instructions that could lead the AI to take unintended actions, such as deleting files. Users are encouraged to craft clear, unambiguous prompts and to be mindful of the tool’s scope within the designated folder.
Background
Claude Code was originally launched as a command‑line tool in November 2024 and quickly became one of Anthropic’s most successful products. Its popularity spurred a series of new interfaces, including a web version and a Slack integration, paving the way for Cowork’s development as a more user‑friendly entry point to agentic AI capabilities.