Anthropic previews Claude Duet, an agent app that messages you first

If you're on a Claude Pro or Max plan in the US, you can join the waitlist for Claude Duet, a new app where Claude watches your connected apps and messages you when something needs you. The Help Center says "Invitations go out in waves."

What changed#

On Oct 21, Anthropic opened a research preview of Claude Duet, "a new app where Claude works as a proactive agent," on "iOS and Android, and on claude.ai." @claudeai posted it at 3:09 PM ET.

Before and after, per the product page: "The Claude app waits for you to open a chat," while "Claude Duet comes to you." It sends a morning brief, checks your connected accounts "every few hours" (Anthropic), and works in its own cloud browser with your devices off. It brings your Claude memory, skills and connectors. The Help Center says "You can't choose a model. Claude Duet runs on Claude Opus 5.5."

Why it matters#

Our read: judge it on approvals. Before Duet "sends a message, makes a payment, signs a document, or deletes anything," it shows you the action and waits (Anthropic). Each purchase uses "a one-time card that only works for that purchase" (Help Center). 9to5Mac frames it as a rival to ChatGPT's dots.

How to use it#

We couldn't try it (invite only). Steps from the Help Center:

1. On the product page, select Join the waitlist.
2. Enter the email on your Claude account, your plan and phone type, and submit. "Access is tied to the email address you gave us."
3. Open the invitation on your phone and sign in with your Claude account.
4. Tell it what to watch: "You can also tell it what you want to hear about and how often" (Anthropic).

A first instruction (ours, untested):

Each morning, brief me on only three things: client emails waiting more than a day for my reply, meetings in the next 48 hours with no agenda, and unpaid invoices older than 14 days. Draft replies and reminders for me to approve, and send nothing without my yes. Message me during the day only if a client is waiting on me today.

Good to know#

From the Help Center unless linked:

• It uses your limits. No extra cost, but background work counts, so "you may reach your limits sooner than with chat alone." You get one limit reset when admitted.
• Not live. Between checks, "something urgent can arrive."
• Gaps. Not on Team or Enterprise yet. No Microsoft 365, limited Slack, no browser takeover, no calls or texts. No trading securities or moving money between accounts, even with approval.
• Watch next. Anthropic will share safety details "in the coming days." 1Password sign-in is "Coming soon."

Last checked: Oct 21, 2026, 3:58 PM ET. What changed: first published Oct 21; no updates since.