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Anthropic opens a waitlist for Claude Duet, a background agent
Anthropic's research preview of Claude Duet, an app where Claude works as a proactive agent, starts by waitlist with US Pro and Max subscribers.
Check our sources · 11 facts from 2 sources
Video: Claude on YouTube
Key points
- Anthropic describes Claude Duet as a research preview app where Claude works as a proactive agent, with a waitlist starting with US Pro and Max subscribers.
- Duet runs on a virtual machine with its own browser, so the user's laptop or phone does not need to be on, and it checks connected accounts every few hours.
- In the preview, Duet is included in Pro and Max plans and shares Claude's usage limits. It waits for approval before sending messages, making payments, signing documents or deleting anything.
What happened
Anthropic's launch page of 21 October 2026 describes Claude Duet as an app in research preview in which Claude works as a proactive agent. It sends a morning brief, checks connected accounts every few hours and messages the user only when something needs attention. Duet runs on a virtual machine with its own browser.
Access is by waitlist, starting with US Pro and Max subscribers, on iOS, Android and claude.ai. Duet is included in Pro and Max plans and uses the same usage limits as the rest of Claude. Before Duet sends messages, makes payments, signs documents or deletes anything, it shows what it is about to do and waits for approval.
Trading securities and moving money between accounts are not allowed, even with approval. Anthropic lists limits: Duet may misread a thread or misjudge what is urgent, and it cannot yet show the user its browser.
Underlined sentences link to the facts we checked. Dotted words open a short explainer.
Fact 3 of 11 · from Anthropic, 21 Oct 2026
Throughout the day, it keeps tabs on those apps and messages you only when something needs your attention.
Fact 7 of 11 · from Anthropic, 21 Oct 2026
For this research preview, Claude Duet is included in Pro and Max plans and uses the same usage limits as the rest of Claude.
Fact 8 of 11 · from Anthropic, 21 Oct 2026
But before it sends a message, makes a payment, signs a document, or deletes anything, it shows you exactly what it’s about to do and waits for your approval.
What it means for you
Our viewDuet is a research preview behind a waitlist, so most readers cannot try it yet. Anthropic says it designed the app around Claude Opus 5.5 and that it works from a virtual machine, so it can act on connected accounts while your devices are off.
That puts the approval step in focus: Anthropic says Duet shows what it is about to do before sending messages, making payments, signing documents or deleting anything, and it lists misreading a thread or misjudging what is urgent as known limits. Plan inclusion and usage limits are described for the research preview only.
If you join the waitlist, try it first on low-stakes accounts, and ask Anthropic what the terms will be once the preview ends.
It adds no new facts.
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Check our sources
Every sentence above is checked against these 2 sources.
1 Introducing Claude Duet
Open the source archived copy-
Anthropic's page "Introducing Claude Duet" is dated 21 October 2026 and describes Claude Duet as a new app in research preview in which Claude works as a proactive agent.
citeToday, we’re opening a research preview of Claude Duet, a new app where Claude works as a proactive agent.
-
Duet sends a short morning brief on the most important items across connected apps.
citeEach morning, it sends you a short brief on the most important items across your connected apps.
-
Duet checks connected accounts every few hours and messages the user only when something needs attention.
citeThroughout the day, it keeps tabs on those apps and messages you only when something needs your attention.
-
Duet runs on a virtual machine with its own browser, so the user's laptop or phone does not need to be on.
citeClaude Duet has a virtual machine with its own browser, so it doesn’t require your laptop or phone to be on.
-
Anthropic says it designed Duet around Claude Opus 5.5.
Toned down to what the source says
citeWe designed it around Claude Opus 5.5
-
A research preview is available by waitlist, starting with US Pro and Max subscribers.
citeA research preview is available by waitlist today, starting with US Pro and Max subscribers.
-
For the research preview, Claude Duet is included in Pro and Max plans and uses the same usage limits as the rest of Claude.
Toned down to what the source says
citeFor this research preview, Claude Duet is included in Pro and Max plans and uses the same usage limits as the rest of Claude.
-
Before Duet acts, it shows the user what it is about to do and waits for approval, including for sending messages, payments, signing documents and deleting anything.
citeBut before it sends a message, makes a payment, signs a document, or deletes anything, it shows you exactly what it’s about to do and waits for your approval.
-
Trading securities and moving money between accounts are not allowed in Duet, even with approval.
citeA few things are off-limits even with your approval, like trading securities or moving money between accounts.
-
Anthropic's page says Duet might misread a thread or miscalibrate what is urgent, and that it cannot yet show the user its browser.
citeThis is an early version of Claude Duet, and it still might misread a thread or miscalibrate what’s urgent. We built its core functionality around work, so personal errands, such as booking tickets, aren’t quite as strong, and it can’t yet show you its browser.
2 Claude Duet
Open the source archived copy-
Duet is a standalone app for iOS and Android and is also available on the web at claude.ai.
cite
Every sentence above is checked against these 2 sources. Each fact has its own address you can cite.
Source 1 · Anthropic · 21 Oct 2026
Introducing Claude Duet
Anthropic's page "Introducing Claude Duet" is dated 21 October 2026 and describes Claude Duet as a new app in research preview in which Claude works as a proactive agent.
Today, we’re opening a research preview of Claude Duet, a new app where Claude works as a proactive agent.
Duet sends a short morning brief on the most important items across connected apps.
Each morning, it sends you a short brief on the most important items across your connected apps.
Duet checks connected accounts every few hours and messages the user only when something needs attention.
Throughout the day, it keeps tabs on those apps and messages you only when something needs your attention.
Show all 10 factsShow fewer facts
Duet runs on a virtual machine with its own browser, so the user's laptop or phone does not need to be on.
Claude Duet has a virtual machine with its own browser, so it doesn’t require your laptop or phone to be on.
Anthropic says it designed Duet around Claude Opus 5.5.
Toned down to what the source saysWe designed it around Claude Opus 5.5
A research preview is available by waitlist, starting with US Pro and Max subscribers.
A research preview is available by waitlist today, starting with US Pro and Max subscribers.
For the research preview, Claude Duet is included in Pro and Max plans and uses the same usage limits as the rest of Claude.
Toned down to what the source saysFor this research preview, Claude Duet is included in Pro and Max plans and uses the same usage limits as the rest of Claude.
Before Duet acts, it shows the user what it is about to do and waits for approval, including for sending messages, payments, signing documents and deleting anything.
But before it sends a message, makes a payment, signs a document, or deletes anything, it shows you exactly what it’s about to do and waits for your approval.
Trading securities and moving money between accounts are not allowed in Duet, even with approval.
A few things are off-limits even with your approval, like trading securities or moving money between accounts.
Anthropic's page says Duet might misread a thread or miscalibrate what is urgent, and that it cannot yet show the user its browser.
This is an early version of Claude Duet, and it still might misread a thread or miscalibrate what’s urgent. We built its core functionality around work, so personal errands, such as booking tickets, aren’t quite as strong, and it can’t yet show you its browser.
Source 2 · Anthropic · 21 Oct 2026
Claude Duet
Topics
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