Anthropic Brings Computer Use to Claude, Allowing AI Agents to Control Mouse and Keyboard

Anthropic developed the Model Hardware Standard, or MHS, with HHMI Janelia Research Campus to address a longstanding obstacle in laboratories and advanced manufacturing: equipment from different vendors often lacks a common interface. The specification is designed to let AI agents coordinate programmable physical devices, potentially enabling continuous automated workflows in drug discovery, microscopy, quantum computing and manufacturing while reducing the need for bespoke integrations.

Anthropic opened a limited MHS research preview on Aug. 27, 2026, for an initial group of scientific laboratories and advanced manufacturers. The system can operate microscopes, liquid handlers and robotic arms in parallel, supporting tasks from dose-response experiments to laser calibration on a quantum computer. Anthropic said MHS could cut hardware integration from weeks or months to hours or minutes. The company plans to develop safety evaluations with preview partners before releasing the standard as open source.

Anthropic introduced computer use in public beta on Oct. 22, 2024, allowing developers to use the Claude API to interpret screens, move a cursor, click and type. Advancing the capability to general availability is significant because it gives companies a more stable foundation for building agents that automate research, data entry and other multi-step workflows across websites and desktop applications.

Anthropic said the Claude API’s computer-use capability and a new browser tool have now exited testing. The updated system can execute multiple actions within a single response, reducing repeated exchanges between the model and an application. The browser tool reads webpage structure instead of relying on successive screenshots, cutting token consumption and addressing failures caused when page elements shift and invalidate screen coordinates.

Artificial intelligence company Anthropic is working to make generative AI more practical. Its autonomous agent service can carry out multistep tasks across files and applications, marking a milestone in improving business productivity. The service turns AI from a one-way conversational tool into a virtual assistant that can operate in the background and handle complex workflows, opening new possibilities for business automation.

Anthropic announced web and mobile app versions of Claude Cowork on July 16, 2026. The service is initially rolling out to users of its top-tier Max plans, priced at $100 and $200 a month. It supports multistep business tasks across platforms, allowing users to submit work to the cloud and then go offline while the workflow runs entirely in the background.

Anthropic’s Claude Cowork is designed to let AI agents carry out multi-step tasks on users’ behalf, ranging from organizing information to handling enterprise workflows. Expanding beyond its original environment to the web and mobile devices could embed the AI virtual coworker more deeply in daily operations and cross-device collaboration, marking an important step in enterprise adoption of generative AI.

Anthropic has announced that Claude Cowork will expand to the web and mobile, with support for cross-platform operation and continuous cloud-based background processing. Early data show that 33.4% of users already employ the tool for business-process operations. However, available reports do not specify an exact release date, subscription price or related investment amount, and the rollout timetable and pricing plans have yet to be announced.

Anthropic is continuing to develop Claude from a conversational AI into a gateway for workplace software, after previously focusing most related integrations on desktop use. Mobile support allows users to connect to existing services while away from their computers, reflecting intensifying competition among generative AI companies over cross-device workflows and enterprise user retention.

As of July 20, 2026, Anthropic has announced the formal launch of Claude Work Tools on its mobile app, initially covering three tools: Figma, Canva and Amplitude. Users can access design, content creation and product analytics services directly through Claude on mobile, extending previously desktop-oriented workflows to smartphones.

Anthropic uses its Claude Economic Index to track how generative AI is changing work and daily life. The research is significant because Claude.ai use has gradually expanded beyond a narrow set of highly paid professional tasks into lower-paid work and everyday situations. It also highlights disparities in users’ ability to create value with AI depending on their level of experience.

Anthropic’s latest report, released in February 2026, found that Claude.ai use cases continued to diversify, while the frequency of automated workflows doubled from the previous period. Tasks also shifted from human-AI collaboration toward autonomous execution. The report found that more experienced users were better able to deploy AI for high-value work, while Claude was evolving from a workplace tool into a personal assistant.

Claude Code is Anthropic’s agentic coding tool, capable of reading and writing files, running Bash commands and executing tests. Its default permission system requires human approval before writing files or running commands. Auto Mode instead uses a separate classifier to review each tool call, aiming to keep long-running tasks moving while preventing file deletion, data exfiltration and malware execution.

Anthropic launched Auto Mode as a research preview for Team plans on March 24, 2026, expanding it to Enterprise plans and the API within days. On July 10, it announced that the feature was formally available to all eligible users. Auto Mode requires Claude Code version 2.1.83 or later. It blocks high-risk operations and pauses after three consecutive blocks or 20 blocks in total. Anthropic did not announce separate pricing.

Anthropic’s Claude Cowork already allowed AI to work with local files, connected services and knowledge-work tasks with user authorization. Dispatch synchronizes the same work conversation across mobile and desktop devices. The feature means Claude can do more than answer questions: it can continue operating tools while users are away from their computers, advancing the shift from AI assistants toward agents that execute tasks autonomously.

Anthropic released Dispatch as a research preview on March 17, 2026. On March 23, it also enabled Claude Cowork and Claude Code to control the mouse, keyboard, browser and screen. The features are available to Pro subscribers paying $20 a month and Max subscribers paying at least $100 a month, with support for macOS and Windows. The desktop must remain awake with Claude Desktop open, and both devices must stay connected to the internet.