Is AI Going to Control Your Phone?

After unveiling an AI assistant, Claude AI, that could be used to complete tasks on computers, AI startup Anthropic said it is working on a new feature for Claude that would allow the AI assistant to ease handling mobile phones, like making calls and executing other tasks.

The capacity to perform tasks on both computer and smartphones would make Claude a personal AI agent that can complete work for the user, even in their absence, similar to tools like OpenClaw.

The new feature useful for smartphones, Orbit, is currently under testing. Orbit would allow Claude to perform tasks like composing messages, making phone calls, creating or deleting calendar events, taking over the browser, and more on mobiles.

Claude can already execute phone calls autonomously but it still requires more tools to act independently. Anthropic, which already has the capacity to control computers by performing various tasks, can complete the loop if it can execute tasks on smartphones too.

Claude has a new update that allows the AI assistant to use the mouse, keyboard, and screen of the computer and also access apps on the user’s behalf.

This capability would help Claude to open applications, navigate browsers, fill spreadsheets and also manage other activities on a computer, allowing to complete work even when the user is away.

Anthropic says that users can give prompts to Claude remotely and step away to get the assigned work done by the time they return. At present, this facility is available as a research preview for paid Claude Cowork and Claude Code users.  It is available on macOS (MacBook, iMAC, and Mac mini) for now.