Anthropic has added a built-in browser to Claude Cowork, allowing the AI assistant to access the web without relying on the Claude in Chrome extension.
Cowork now detects when a prompt requires information from the web and automatically opens Anthropic’s custom browser in a side panel.
The feature is enabled by default. It is already available to Enterprise customers and is rolling out to Pro, Max and Team subscribers this week. Administrators and individual users can switch back to the Chrome extension through settings.
Anthropic described the change directly: “A lot of web tasks don’t need your browser, just a browser, and now Claude has one.”
The Browser Has Limited Access
Anthropic has deliberately restricted the built-in browser.
It cannot access logged-in services such as email, banking, or other accounts unless users manually enter their credentials. This means it is primarily designed to retrieve public information rather than automatically act through a user’s existing browser sessions.
The change is notable because Chrome accounts for close to 70% of global web traffic, according to Statcounter.
Europe has spent years trying to reduce the influence of browser defaults. Article 6(3) of the Digital Markets Act requires designated gatekeepers to display a choice screen during first use, showing major browsers, search engines, and virtual assistants.
The rule is also behind European efforts requiring Google to make room for competing assistants on Android.
However, an in-app browser does not trigger those requirements. Anthropic is not classified as a designated gatekeeper, Claude is not considered a core platform service, and users do not see a browser choice screen because they never directly open the browser.
Prompt Injection Remains a Risk
Anthropic acknowledges that the new browser does not eliminate security concerns.
Prompt injection remains a risk. This type of attack hides malicious instructions inside webpages that can manipulate an AI agent into performing unintended actions.
Anthropic says the built-in browser relies on the same security guardrails as the Claude in Chrome extension.
The concern is not only theoretical. TNW previously reported that Claude Cowork could escape its local virtual machine and access credentials stored on a Mac.
OpenAI has already taken a similar path. Its standalone Atlas browser was shut down this month and integrated into a Work mode that includes its own built-in browser.
Anthropic has also increasingly made new features default experiences. Earlier, it combined Claude chat and Cowork memory by default, while still allowing users to disable the feature afterward.
The broader shift means users may increasingly interact with browsers embedded inside AI assistants rather than choosing and opening a traditional browser themselves.
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