Anthropic launches Claude Duet to challenge Meta and OpenAI in agents - CHOSUNBIZ
Anthropic has introduced a personal artificial intelligence (AI) assistant that can do tasks for people. Meta and OpenAI have already introduced similar AI assistants.
On October 22, local time, Anthropic released an early test version of its new AI assistant, called Claude Duet. It is built using Anthropic's AI model, Claude Opus 5.5. This early version is available for people to try as part of the company's research.
Claude Duet can look through information and apps connected to it, figure out what needs to be done, and do those tasks by itself. People do not have to keep giving it the same instructions. Anthropic said it made Claude Duet for professionals and small-business owners who have a lot of work and find it hard to keep track of their schedules and different tasks.
Claude Duet can give users a daily update with the most important information they need to know. Users can also ask it to check their emails and messaging apps and send messages when needed. One important feature is that Claude Duet keeps working even when users leave their desks or turn off their computers. It does this by using a separate virtual computer, which is a computer that runs through software.
Claude Duet can connect to more than 6,000 services. These include Google's Gmail email service, the workplace messaging app Slack, the social networking service LinkedIn, the payment service Stripe, and the online shopping platform Shopify. It can also pay for products directly using digital wallets from Stripe and Shopify.
Because Claude Duet can do more things on its own, Anthropic has also added safety rules. Before it does sensitive tasks, such as sending emails, making payments, signing documents, or deleting files, it must get clear permission from the user. Some tasks are considered too risky. For example, Claude Duet is not allowed to trade stocks or other securities or transfer money, even if the user gives permission.
Claude Duet also automatically refuses requests to share very private information with outside parties, including credit card numbers and identification numbers. It is designed to share health or financial information only when the user clearly tells it to. However, Anthropic warned that Claude Duet is still in an early stage of development. This means it might misunderstand what a user wants or make mistakes when deciding how urgently a task needs to be done.
People can use Claude Duet through the Claude website or the Claude apps for iPhones and Android phones. For now, Anthropic is accepting requests to try the service from people in the United States who pay at least $20 a month for a Claude subscription.
Meta previously introduced its own personal AI assistant, called Muse, while OpenAI introduced one called Dots. Meta's Muse attracted a lot of attention because it was downloaded millions of times soon after it launched.