8 ms·

This is a nice technical account that we're used to seeing from Simon. I get a kick out of the fact that Microsoft has been preciously clinging to the "Copilot

This is a nice technical account that we're used to seeing from Simon. I get a kick out of the fact that Microsoft has been preciously clinging to the "Copilot" branding and here comes Claude coming saying "Cowork? Good enough for us!". - Taking a step back, I really would love to see a broader perspective -- an account of someone who is not tech savvy at all. Someone who works a basic desk job that requires basic competency of microsoft word. I'm so deep into the bubble of AI-adjacent people that I haven't taken stock of how this would or could empower those who are under-skilled. We've taken it as truth that those who benefit most from AI are high-skilled augmenters, but do others see some lift from it? I'd love if anthropic tried to strap some barely-performing administrative assistants into these harnesses and see if there's a net benefit. For all I know, it's not inconceivable that there be a `rm -rf` catastrophe every other hour.

sanderjd 8mo ago
This predates Cowork, but I have started to see "non-technical" journalists start taking Claude Code seriously recently. For instance, Joe Weisenthal has been writing about this, eg.: https://nitter.net/thestalwart/status/2010512842705735948 https://nitter.net/thestalwart/status/2010512842705735948.
- nlawalker 8mo ago
  The Atlantic just did a dedicated article the other day. Gift link: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2026/01/claude-code-ai-hype/685617/?gift=Ex_YT3j3w4bpWvzqHtkwOwcIudNEkw2J6RnKDRqjYk8 https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2026/01/claude-code-a...
  - Analemma_ 8mo ago
    New York Magazine, not a technical publication by any means, also had an article about Claude Code/Cowork yesterday: [0]. Kinda punches a hole in the argument you sometimes see around here that "ChatGPT is the only brand consumers know, so OpenAI will definitely win." [0]: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/how-claude-code-cowork-reset-the-ai-assistant-race.html https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/how-claude-code-cowo...
    - sanderjd 8mo ago
      I think it was reasonable to think, a couple years ago, that it would probably turn out that way, but yeah, not anymore. It honestly feels really refreshing to me, for there to be genuine competition in a new technology.
nonethewiser 8mo ago
>Someone who works a basic desk job that requires basic competency of microsoft word. I dont actually think there many of those people out there. And those that are, are on their way out. There are basically none of those people entering the work force. There are tons of people with that sort of computer literacy but they aren't working on computers.
- californical 8mo ago
  Eh, I can think of some examples for sure, I think there are still a lot of people like this. * Bookkeeper & planning approval within city government * Doctor/dentist/optometry receptionist & scheduler (both at independent offices and at major hospitals) * Front desk staff at almost every company with a physical front desk * University administrative staff (there can be a lot more of these people than you'd think) * DMV workers * Probably lots of teachers Those jobs all will use other software as well, but a lot of their job is making and filling forms on a computer, where they are likely needing to use MS Word fairly often to write things up.
  - mrdependable 8mo ago
    A lot of these have to do with other peoples data. Are we feeding these machines social security numbers and other PII?
    - californical 8mo ago
      I hope not, but… Yes, probably is happening regularly everywhere it’s not explicitly regulated
      - InitialLastName 8mo ago
        Even where it is explicitly regulated, it's probably being done unthinkingly.
    - TeMPOraL 8mo ago
      It's not any practical problem if it's not used for training and product improvement. It's also not a legal problem if contracts have such provisions and are compatible with laws in relevant jurisdictions.

sanderjd 8mo ago

This predates Cowork, but I have started to see "non-technical" journalists start taking Claude Code seriously recently. For instance, Joe Weisenthal has been writing about this, eg.: https://nitter.net/thestalwart/status/2010512842705735948 https://nitter.net/thestalwart/status/2010512842705735948.

nlawalker 8mo ago
The Atlantic just did a dedicated article the other day. Gift link: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2026/01/claude-code-ai-hype/685617/?gift=Ex_YT3j3w4bpWvzqHtkwOwcIudNEkw2J6RnKDRqjYk8 https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2026/01/claude-code-a...
- Analemma_ 8mo ago
  New York Magazine, not a technical publication by any means, also had an article about Claude Code/Cowork yesterday: [0]. Kinda punches a hole in the argument you sometimes see around here that "ChatGPT is the only brand consumers know, so OpenAI will definitely win." [0]: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/how-claude-code-cowork-reset-the-ai-assistant-race.html https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/how-claude-code-cowo...
  - sanderjd 8mo ago
    I think it was reasonable to think, a couple years ago, that it would probably turn out that way, but yeah, not anymore. It honestly feels really refreshing to me, for there to be genuine competition in a new technology.

nonethewiser 8mo ago

>Someone who works a basic desk job that requires basic competency of microsoft word. I dont actually think there many of those people out there. And those that are, are on their way out. There are basically none of those people entering the work force. There are tons of people with that sort of computer literacy but they aren't working on computers.

californical 8mo ago
Eh, I can think of some examples for sure, I think there are still a lot of people like this. * Bookkeeper & planning approval within city government * Doctor/dentist/optometry receptionist & scheduler (both at independent offices and at major hospitals) * Front desk staff at almost every company with a physical front desk * University administrative staff (there can be a lot more of these people than you'd think) * DMV workers * Probably lots of teachers Those jobs all will use other software as well, but a lot of their job is making and filling forms on a computer, where they are likely needing to use MS Word fairly often to write things up.
- mrdependable 8mo ago
  A lot of these have to do with other peoples data. Are we feeding these machines social security numbers and other PII?
  - californical 8mo ago
    I hope not, but… Yes, probably is happening regularly everywhere it’s not explicitly regulated
    - InitialLastName 8mo ago
      Even where it is explicitly regulated, it's probably being done unthinkingly.
  - TeMPOraL 8mo ago
    It's not any practical problem if it's not used for training and product improvement. It's also not a legal problem if contracts have such provisions and are compatible with laws in relevant jurisdictions.