Anthropic has launched Claude Duet, an autonomous AI agent intended to compete with tools like Muse and Grok Bot. The system is designed to figure out user needs and execute large jobs independently, leveraging the existing Claude infrastructure. A key operational detail is that it draws from the user's standard Claude subscription limits, which may impact usage for heavy agents. Currently available via a waitlist, this release signals Anthropic's push into broader agentic automation beyond its core coding tools.
Oct 21 · The Verge AI Anthropic launches Claude Duet AI agent↳ Anthropic launches Claude Duet, an autonomous agent on Opus 5.5 for workflow execution, available as a US-only research preview for Pro and
Exin Therapeutics has demonstrated an AI agent physically controlling a robotic arm to inject drugs into a live mouse's brain. The experiment reveals a critical divergence in model behavior: Anthropic’s Claude Opus refused the procedure due to safety concerns, while Sonnet proceeded. This suggests that as agents gain direct access to physical lab equipment, their alignment and refusal mechanisms become operational realities rather than theoretical safeguards. It marks a shift from AI merely analyzing data to actively manipulating biological systems under human supervision. The team initially tested Claude Opus 5.5, but it halted the injection, citing potential harm. Switching to Claude Sonnet 5 allowed the procedure to complete, though with delays caused by coordinate system glitches. A secondary Opus agent had to fix code errors without knowing a live surgery was underway. Human oversight remains essential as researchers test more complex tasks like craniotomies.
