Google and Anthropic advance AI toward autonomous task execution

Major AI developers Google and Anthropic are shifting their focus from conversational assistants to autonomous agents capable of executing complex professional tasks.

At the Gemini at Work 2026 conference, Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian introduced the ‘Gemini Agent’. Unlike traditional assistants that provide answers, this agent is designed to act as a unified interface for enterprise work. It can plan multi-step workflows, interact with various applications like Gmail, Drive, and Docs, and connect to internal corporate systems. Users can set a high-level goal—such as analyzing sales data or coordinating meetings—and the agent will autonomously determine the necessary steps, tools, and data required to complete the objective.

Simultaneously, Anthropic has expanded its Claude assistant with two new experimental tools: ‘Claude Dashboards’ and ‘Claude Motion’. Claude Dashboards allows users to connect to major data sources like Snowflake and Salesforce to create interactive, real-time data visualizations using natural language. Claude Motion focuses on visual communication, enabling the transformation of written reports and ideas into animated visual presentations for professional use.