Control your AI colleague remotely: Anthropic is testing a mobile app for Claude Cowork

Cowork will continue to remain a tool primarily intended for desktop computers, where it can autonomously perform tasks such as organizing and analyzing local files or generating complex documents. The mobile application serves as a kind of remote control. for tracking progress and managing tasks while the user is away from the computer.

How mobile management works

The key idea is that users can initiate and monitor tasks from their smartphone, giving the mobile application almost identical functionality to the desktop version, although the tasks themselves are not executed locally on the mobile. All processing and interaction with the files will take place on the user’s computer, which must remain active and connected to the Internet for the system to function.

This approach strengthens the position of the Claude Cowork tool as a constantly available digital colleague, not just a conversational chatbot. This enables the execution of tasks even when the user is physically absent from his primary workplace. Screenshots of the upcoming feature, which appeared on the X social network, suggest that the remote functionality will be available through both the mobile app and the web.

Dispatch feature in beta

Although the company has not yet officially announced the upgrade, the move is a logical sequence after rival OpenAI introduced a controller for its Codex tool within the ChatGPT mobile app in May. Čit appears that Anthropic’s version, called Dispatch, is the majorityć available in beta for Pro and Max plan users. The support page states that it requires an active internet connection on both devices to work, and that the desktop application must be running. All this fragmented information suggests that the official launch is very close, as reported by TechRadar.

It is expected that mobile integration will offer a unique, synchronized conversation between a mobile device and a computer, allowing users to switch seamlessly. One of the advantages is the possibility of receiving push notifications on the phone when the task is completed or requires additional input by the user.

Broader context: agentic artificial intelligence goes mobile

Anthropic’s move is part of a broader industry trend toward more capable and autonomous AI agents. Unlike traditional chatbots that mostly react to user queries, so-called agent artificial intelligence can proactively take steps to achieve a given goal. This shift transforms mobile applications from static tools into intelligent partners that can anticipate user needs and automate complex work processes.

The “remote control” model adopted by Anthropic represents a pragmatic approach to mobile agent artificial intelligence. It uses the processing power and file access of a desktop computer, while providing the convenience of mobile interaction. This strategy also addresses potential security issues by keeping user data localized on their computer.

Strong competition on the market of AI assistants

The battle for the dominant mobile AI assistant is a key battleground for the biggest tech companies. While Anthropic is developing its remote control agent, competitors are pursuing their own strategies. Google’s Gemini is deeply integrated into the Android operating system and the suite of Google apps, aiming to become a system-level AI that understands user context. OpenAI’s ChatGPT, known for its outstanding conversational capabilities, also offers a voice mode for more natural interaction.

On the other hand, Microsoft’s Copilot is strongly integrated into the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, where it matches tasks within applications such as Outlook, Word and Teams. With its “Apple Intelligence” platform, Apple plans to significantly improve Siri, giving it more advanced processing capabilities on the device itself and better integration with third-party applications. Claude Cowork’s development for mobile devices, with a focus on task management, positions Anthropic as a serious contender in the growing market for AI-powered productivity tools.