Anthropic is taking a significant step toward expanding the role of its AI assistant beyond software development. The company has unveiled Cowork, a research-preview feature that transforms Claude Code from a developer-focused tool into a broader assistant designed for everyday business operations.

Rather than limiting Claude to coding-related tasks, Cowork positions the assistant as a digital coworker capable of handling document-heavy and organizational work commonly found in enterprise environments.

From Code to Daily Business Operations

With Cowork enabled, organizations can allow Claude to interact directly with specific folders, internal tools, and approved applications. This access enables the assistant to perform practical tasks such as compiling reports, summarizing schedules, organizing files, and managing structured information across systems.

Anthropic also revealed that Cowork can operate alongside Claude in Chrome, allowing it to complete assignments that require browser interaction. One notable feature is the ability to queue multiple tasks at once, enabling users to work in parallel instead of waiting for a single task to finish before starting another.

Expanding AI Use Across Knowledge-Based Roles

Industry analysts see Cowork as a strategic move to embed AI deeper into non-technical workflows. According to experts, the feature signals Anthropic’s ambition to make Claude an active participant in knowledge-driven work rather than just a conversational assistant.

Vershita Srivastava, practice director at Everest Group, noted that Cowork emphasizes structured execution over simple dialogue. By focusing on documents, files, and repeatable actions, the assistant aligns closely with the daily responsibilities of many enterprise teams.

She added that departments such as research, operations, analytics, and project management offices are likely to benefit the most, particularly in environments where permissions and governance rules can be clearly defined.

Benefits for Developers and Beyond

While Cowork targets broader business use cases, it still offers value to technical teams. Bradley Shimmin, practice leader for data, AI, and infrastructure at The Futurum Group, described the feature as a logical extension of Anthropic’s earlier work around system-level interaction and command-line automation.

Unlike AI tools that rely solely on screen interpretation through a browser, Cowork can interact directly with operating system functions. This capability allows it to automate tasks that sit close to development workflows but are not strictly coding-related.

For example, a developer could ask Cowork to transform structured project data—such as JSON files—into readable documentation formats like Markdown, making the information accessible to non-technical stakeholders.

Security and Risk Considerations

Anthropic has emphasized that granting system-level access to Cowork should be done carefully. The company cautions that, like any AI-driven automation tool, Cowork may misinterpret instructions and potentially trigger harmful actions, including deleting files or modifying critical data.

To reduce risk, the assistant requires user confirmation before executing commands. Even so, Anthropic recommends that organizations apply strict access controls and clear usage boundaries when deploying Cowork in production environments.

Looking Ahead

With Cowork, Anthropic is positioning Claude as more than a coding companion. The feature represents a shift toward AI assistants that can actively participate in structured enterprise work, bridging the gap between technical automation and everyday business productivity.