Anthropic is expanding Claude Cowork from a desktop-only tool to web and mobile, so users can start tasks on a laptop and continue on a phone or browser without keeping the device open.

Beta access will roll out over the coming weeks, initially for Max subscribers, with plans to extend support to additional tiers later.

The rollout highlights a core advantage: tasks can progress across devices with background execution, while human review gates remain at key decision points.

Mobile automation of phone tasks is not enabled; instead, the system sends permissions requests and requires user approval before actions proceed.

Scheduled routines and long-running tasks can run in the background, with prompts for user approval when decisions are needed, such as client briefings and recurring reports.

Enterprise benefits include streamlined team workflows and potentially faster project turnaround, with data privacy addressed through encryption strategies.

The three-fold promise remains: work can follow you across devices, background tasks run without an online desktop, and final outputs still require user confirmation.

Key changes include cross-device task progression with background work, independent scheduled tasks, and Claude preparing documents, analyzing emails, transcripts, and news while awaiting user approval.

Cowork is positioned alongside Claude Code to target non-developer knowledge work, expanding enterprise adoption beyond coding tasks.

This shift aligns with a broader industry move from chatbots to work surfaces, with competitors deploying smartphone-centered automation tools and Slack integrations like Claude Tag.

Market potential spans legal, software development, and content creation, emphasizing practical business applications over chat-only interfaces.

Security concerns persist, including a sandbox-escape vulnerability reported elsewhere; Anthropic argues server-side mobile/web versions mitigate risk, though autonomous background data handling remains a consideration.