Anthropic expands Claude Cowork beyond the desktop

The expansion allows users to initiate tasks on a laptop and receive progress updates or review finished work on mobile devices, even while their primary computer remains offline. By enabling background processing, Anthropic intends for the agent to handle the fragmented administrative "work around the work" that consumes professional time, such as reconciling spreadsheets or drafting briefing documents from scattered email threads.

Data from 1.2 million anonymized sessions across 600,000 organizations reveals that business process operations account for 33.4% of Cowork usage, while software development represents only 8.7%. This suggests that the tool’s primary value lies in HR, finance, and administrative tasks rather than strictly technical output. While the desktop remains the hub for deep work involving local file access, the move to web and mobile interfaces is designed to capture users who prioritize cross-device flexibility over local processing power. This strategy mirrors broader industry trends, as AI labs increasingly compete to own the everyday digital surfaces where professional tasks are executed.