Anthropic Frees Claude Cowork From Your Desktop, Bringing Always-On Agents to Phone and Web

Anthropic has loosened Claude Cowork's dependence on active desktop sessions, allowing its AI agent to execute tasks around the clock via mobile and web interfaces. Previously, users had to leave their computers awake and the app running to keep the agent functioning—a workaround that made continuous automation cumbersome for everyday workers.

What's Changing#

The company rolled out limited mobile and web versions of Cowork that operate independently of desktop connections. In demonstration footage, Anthropic showed the agent pulling data across email, Slack, meeting notes, and web searches to assemble a business renewal briefing and draft correspondence—all without manual oversight between sessions.

Max-tier subscribers ($100/month) will access the beta first, followed by a gradual rollout to Pro users ($20/month). Free users currently lack Cowork access in their tier.

How It Compares to Previous Versions#

Anthropic previously offered "Dispatch," a feature that let users send task requests from phones while keeping their desktop active as the execution engine. That constraint disappeared with this release. The company had observed users propping open laptops just to maintain continuous agent operation—a practice that's now unnecessary.

The Broader Agentic Shift#

This move reflects a wider trend toward 24/7 AI agents accessible via text and chat. Viral projects like OpenClaw sparked industry competition; OpenAI has since launched Codex and rolled out remote control features, while Google introduced Spark. The shared strategy involves embedding agentic automation directly into existing chatbots rather than building standalone applications.

Anthropic's internal data shows Cowork adoption concentrates on operational workflows—data reports, checklists, slide decks, and proposals—signaling appetite for white-collar automation that integrates seamlessly into phones and browsers.