6,000 connectors power Anthropic's new business agent

The artificial intelligence market is crowded with new tools. Almost every week brings a new assistant to the table. Anthropic is now joining this crowded field. The company launched a new application called Claude Duet. It aims to compete with several major rivals. These include Meta Muse, OpenAI Dots, Hark, and Instinct. The goal is to capture user attention in a fast-moving industry.

Anthropic has a specific target audience in mind. The new agent is designed for professionals and small businesses. It focuses on automating and managing complex tasks. The company draws a clear line between this tool and personal agents. Duet is not built for simple errands. It will not book tickets for you. It also cannot show its browser activity in real time as it works.

Instead, Duet focuses on higher-level management. It can build a daily briefing for its users. It creates dashboards to display key information. It also suggests specific actions based on your data. Like other agents in this space, Duet operates in the background. It uses its own virtual machine to complete work. You can handle other duties while it processes tasks. It will return to you if it needs your approval to proceed.

This launch fits a broader trend in the industry. The market is shifting beyond simple AI assistants. It is moving toward agents that work on behalf of users. Many of Anthropic's competitors are following this path. Meta released a version of Muse for small businesses. It connects to other apps for business use. OpenAI's Dots also has a business focus. It integrates with various professional tools.

Anthropic says Duet works proactively. It monitors ongoing tasks and delivers recommendations. The system is built on the Claude Opus 5.5 model. It can connect to over 6,000 different connectors and plug-ins. These are available in the Claude Marketplace. This wide range of connections allows for diverse functionality.

The agent can also handle financial transactions. It can make online purchases on a user's behalf. It uses Stripe's Link digital wallet for this purpose. It also supports Shopify's Shop Pay. However, the company notes that sensitive steps require user approval. This includes any payment actions. Duet will not trade securities on its own. It will not move money between accounts without explicit permission.

Security is a key feature of the new release. Anthropic released a new classifier to check every message. This tool helps prevent sensitive information from leaking out. By default, the agent will turn down specific requests. It will ask for credit card numbers or government identification only if necessary. This adds a layer of protection for user data.

Claude Duet is available now as an app. It runs on iOS and Android devices. It is also available on the web through Claude.ai. The service is currently in research preview. It is open to Pro and Max customers. Users must join a waitlist to try the new tool. This staged rollout allows the company to manage initial demand.