Anthropic Acquires AI Startup Vercept to Enhance Claude's Computer Use Features

The acquisition will help Anthropic improve its Claude AI assistant's ability to automate multi-step tasks on computers.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Anthropic PBC has acquired Vercept Inc., a startup that developed an AI tool called Vy that can automate multi-step tasks on a user's computer. Vercept previously raised over $50 million from investors including Google's CEO and DeepMind's chief scientist. Anthropic says the acquisition will help enhance the computer use capabilities of its Claude AI assistant, which has a desktop application called Claude Cowork that can interact with files, browse the web, and run user-created plugins.

Why it matters

The acquisition comes as Anthropic's Claude Cowork faces competition from other agentic automation tools like OpenClaw and Perplexity Computer. Improving Claude's computer use abilities could help Anthropic stay competitive in this emerging market for desktop-based AI assistants.

The details

Vercept's Vy tool could automatically perform tasks on a user's behalf, like summarizing documents and enriching the information with web data. Vercept has informed customers that Vy will be sunset within 30 days, and they should switch to Anthropic's Claude instead. Anthropic says the acquisition will help enhance Claude Cowork's capabilities, which already include interacting with local files, browsing the web, and running plugins.

  • Vercept was founded in 2024 by researchers who previously worked at the Allen Institute for AI.
  • Vercept raised over $50 million from investors including Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Google DeepMind chief scientist Jeff Dean.
  • Anthropic announced the acquisition of Vercept on February 25, 2026.

The players

Anthropic PBC

An artificial intelligence company that develops the Claude AI assistant.

Vercept Inc.

A startup that developed an AI tool called Vy that can automate multi-step computer tasks.

Eric Schmidt

The CEO of Google LLC, who was an investor in Vercept.

Jeff Dean

The chief scientist of Google DeepMind, who was an investor in Vercept.

AI2 Incubator

A Seattle-based startup incubator that was Vercept's first investor.

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What’s next

Anthropic plans to integrate Vercept's technology into its Claude AI assistant to enhance its computer use features and automation capabilities.

The takeaway

The acquisition of Vercept strengthens Anthropic's position in the emerging market for desktop-based AI assistants that can automate multi-step tasks, as it seeks to stay competitive against rivals like OpenClaw and Perplexity Computer.