Cowork is a research-preview mode in the Claude macOS app that turns Claude into a file-capable agent: you grant folder access, it plans and executes work, and it asks before major actions.
What actually happened
Anthropic built Cowork after Claude Code users started using it for non-coding work.
Cowork lets Claude access a folder you choose and then read, edit, or create files there.
Claude operates with more “agency” than chat: it makes a plan, executes it, and keeps you updated.
Cowork can use existing connectors, plus an initial set of “skills” aimed at document and presentation creation.
With Claude in Chrome, Cowork can also handle tasks that require browser access.
Key numbers
January 12, 2026: announcement date.
January 16, 2026: research preview available to Pro subscribers.
January 23, 2026: research preview available to Team and Enterprise plans.
Why this was hard
File access means the assistant can perform destructive actions (e.g., deleting local files) if instructed.
Misinterpretation risk increases when an agent is executing multi-step plans, not just answering.
Prompt injection remains a risk when the agent encounters internet content.
Agent safety for real-world actions is described as an active industry problem.
How they solved it
Scope access: users explicitly choose which folders and connectors Claude can see.
Add human-in-the-loop checks: Claude asks before taking “significant actions.”
Reuse agent foundations from Claude Code, but present them in a more approachable UI.
Support richer work via connectors (external info) and agent “skills” for generating files.
Allow asynchronous interaction: users can queue tasks and let Claude work through them in parallel.
What changed
Cowork is available as a research preview in the Claude macOS app via a “Cowork” sidebar entry.
Anthropic says it plans improvements including cross-device sync, Windows support, and safety work.
Why this matters beyond this company
Moving from chat to agentic execution shifts the risk model: permissions, approvals, and safety become core UX.