Claude's New 'Cowork' Feature Lets AI Organize Your Computer Files

Daily Technology

13/01/2026

Anthropic has unveiled a new feature for its AI chatbot, Claude, called Cowork. This innovative tool allows Claude to access and manage files within a user's designated computer folder. Currently exclusive to MacOS users with a premium Claude Max subscription, Cowork aims to streamline digital organization and task management by enabling the AI to interact directly with local files.

Key Takeaways

Claude's Cowork feature grants AI access to user-selected computer folders.
It can organize files, rename them according to specific conventions, and extract data for documents like spreadsheets.
The feature is currently limited to MacOS users with a $100/month Claude Max subscription.
Cowork integrates with other apps via connectors and works with the Claude Chrome extension.
Anthropic advises caution, recommending use on non-sensitive data due to its research preview status.

How Cowork Operates

Users can grant Claude access to a specific folder on their computer. Once access is granted, they can interact with Claude through chat to perform various file management tasks. For instance, Cowork can sort through a folder of receipts, organize them, and generate a spreadsheet detailing expenses. This capability extends to renaming files to adhere to predefined naming structures or reading file contents to create new documents or spreadsheets.

Expanded Capabilities and Inspiration

Cowork also features connectors, enabling Claude to interface with other applications. This allows the AI to create documents, presentations, and other project-based outputs. Furthermore, Cowork is compatible with the Claude in Chrome extension, empowering it to execute tasks that require web browser access. The inspiration for Cowork reportedly stemmed from observing how users were already leveraging Claude Code for non-coding tasks like managing personal finances and organizing files, highlighting a demand for more direct computer interaction capabilities.

Security and Future Implications

Anthropic emphasizes that Claude can only modify or interact with files to which it has been explicitly granted access. However, as Cowork is still in a research preview phase, there's a possibility of unintended consequences. The company strongly advises users to employ Cowork only with non-sensitive data. Anthropic has implemented defenses against prompt-injection attacks, where AI might inadvertently execute commands from external sources. Nevertheless, the potential for a compromised Claude, with access to sensitive local files via Cowork, remains a significant concern.

The introduction of Cowork aligns with a broader trend of AI models developing agentic capabilities, allowing them to perform tasks autonomously on behalf of users. This includes actions like booking travel or compiling reports. Competitors are also exploring direct computer access for AI, such as Google's Gemini 2.5 Computer Use model, signaling a future where AI plays a more integrated role in managing digital environments.

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