Claude can now control your Mac
Anthropic’s Claude rolled out a research preview that can operate your Mac — opening apps, navigating browsers and editing spreadsheets (macOS-only in Claude Cowork and Code). It’s a clear step toward more capable desktop agents and has already generated heavy social buzz. (x.com)
Anthropic has pushed the new Mac-control capability into Claude’s paid desktop stack, making it available in the Claude Desktop app to Pro and Max subscribers after Cowork first appeared as a Max-only preview on January 12, 2026. (claude.com)) The system routes work through native connectors (examples called out by Anthropic include Gmail and Slack) and, where no connector exists, falls back to a computer‑use mode that captures screenshots and drives the mouse and keyboard to complete workflows. (anthropic.com)) A complementary feature called Dispatch lets users queue and monitor desktop tasks from a smartphone using a QR-code setup, but Dispatch requires the Mac to be awake with the Claude app running and was initially gated for Max subscribers before a promised Pro rollout. (macstories.net)) Early hands-on testing has been mixed—MacStories’ first-look found success on roughly half of complex tasks—and Anthropic labels the capability “still early,” noting it can be cumbersome or error-prone and advising caution with sensitive information. (timesofai.com)) Anthropic has also been rolling out platform features alongside Cowork: a memory-import tool that lets users transfer context from other chatbots and a free memory option intended to ease switching as the company broadens Claude’s agentic features. (macrumors.com))
