So far, AI interaction has always worked the same way: you ask, the AI responds. Prompt in, output out. Claude Orbit flips that around.
What is Orbit?
Orbit is a proactive assistant for Claude Cowork that’s currently surfacing in a research preview. The concept: Orbit connects to your work tools — Gmail, Slack, GitHub, Google Calendar, Drive, Figma — and automatically generates personalized briefings. Without you having to ask.
Imagine opening Cowork in the morning and getting a summary: which Slack threads matter, which GitHub PRs are waiting for you, what’s on your calendar, and what design changes happened in Figma. All summarized, prioritized, and with suggested actions.
Where Orbit fits in
The idea isn’t entirely new. OpenAI is working on ChatGPT Pulse, Google has similar plans for Gemini. But Orbit’s focus is different: while the competition seems to target executives and management, Anthropic is going straight for the production layer. GitHub and Figma as launch integrations — that speaks to developers and designers, not just leadership.
This fits Anthropic’s broader strategy: win the makers first, then everyone else.
What we know so far
References to Orbit are already appearing in recent Claude web and mobile builds — as a toggle in the settings panel, a typical pattern for a feature being staged before broader rollout. There are also hints at ‘Orbit Apps’ that can be pinned — essentially quick-access shortcuts to specific automated insights.
Technically, the setup is opt-in and timezone-aware. You decide when and how Orbit keeps you informed.
Why this matters
Proactive AI is the next logical step. The question was never if, but when and how. Orbit shows that Anthropic isn’t just building reactive assistants — it’s thinking about AI as a continuous work partner that reads along in the background and speaks up when something’s relevant.
That’s a fundamental shift. And honestly? If it’s done well, I want it.
Sources: TestingCatalog, i-scoop, PCWorld