automation

Google announced Workspace Intelligence at Cloud Next 2026, integrating Gemini across its productivity suite. The system automates tasks including Google Sheets construction and data entry (claimed 9x faster than manual), document writing in Docs, and cross-app assistance drawing from Gmail, Calendar, Chat, and Drive.

Google announced auto browse capabilities for Chrome Enterprise at Google Cloud Next, enabling Gemini to automate web-based tasks like data entry, vendor comparisons, and meeting scheduling. The feature requires manual user confirmation before executing actions and will initially be available to U.S. Workspace users.

OpenAI's Codex Desktop can now control your computer, run background automations, and includes an in-app browser with click-to-select elements. The update adds automation memory across sessions and access to over 100 curated plugins, though the computer control feature is MacOS-only and unavailable in the EU.

Anthropic has launched a cloud service called routines that allows Claude Code users to run automated AI tasks on company infrastructure. Daily limits range from 5 routines for Pro users to 25 for Team/Enterprise customers.

Anthropic has released routines for Claude Code, allowing automated bug fixes, code reviews, and deployment monitoring to run on cloud infrastructure without requiring users' local machines. The feature is available in research preview with daily limits of 5-25 runs depending on subscription tier.

Anthropic launched repeatable routines for Claude Code in research preview, allowing developers to schedule automated tasks that run on cloud infrastructure without requiring their local machine to be online. Pro users get 5 daily routines, Max users get 15, and Team/Enterprise users get 25.

GitHub has extended Dependabot to allow direct assignment of security alerts to AI coding agents including Copilot, Claude, and Codex. The feature targets vulnerabilities requiring code changes beyond simple version bumps, automating remediation workflows across entire projects.

Elgato has released Stream Deck 7.4 with Model Context Protocol (MCP) support, enabling AI assistants like Claude and ChatGPT to find and activate Stream Deck actions on your behalf. Users can now trigger macros and commands via natural language requests to their connected AI tools after enabling the feature in app preferences.

GitHub's Applied Science team deployed coding agents to automate parts of their own development workflow, testing how AI agents can handle increasingly complex programming tasks. The experiment reveals practical insights into agent-driven development patterns and limitations.

Anthropic has released Auto Mode for Claude Code, a middle-ground safety feature that automatically executes safe local operations while blocking risky actions like external deployments and mass deletions. A Claude Sonnet 4.6 classifier evaluates each command based on conversation context, and the system reverts to manual approval after three consecutive blocks or twenty total blocks. The feature is available as a research preview for Team plan users, with Enterprise and API access expected shortly.

Anthropic is rolling out computer control capabilities for Claude on macOS, allowing the AI to autonomously handle tasks like file navigation, clicking, and software interactions. The feature launches as a research preview for Claude Pro and Claude Max subscribers, with control available from iPhone via a new Dispatch tool.

Anthropic has added "channels" to Claude Code, enabling Claude to respond to incoming messages, webhooks, and notifications asynchronously without user intervention. The research preview supports Telegram and Discord with custom channel support, running through MCP servers with two-way communication.

Perplexity made Computer for Enterprise generally available to enterprise customers on March 12, claiming an internal study of 16,000+ queries showed $1.6 million in labor cost savings and 3.2 years of equivalent work completed in four weeks. The service integrates with Gmail, Outlook, GitHub, Linear, Slack, Notion, Snowflake, Databricks, and Salesforce, orchestrating tasks across 20 frontier models with agentic internet access.

Facebook Marketplace is rolling out Meta AI features that automatically draft replies to buyer inquiries and generate item listings from photos. Sellers can also now offer shipping on listings and view buyer profile summaries with activity history.

GitHub is positioning AI interaction as a shift from prompt-response text interfaces to programmable execution models. The company announced a GitHub Copilot SDK that enables agentic workflows to run directly within applications, marking a transition toward AI systems that take concrete actions rather than generate text responses.

Anthropic has added scheduled task functionality to Claude Code Desktop, allowing users to set up recurring automation that runs in the background. The feature enables Claude to perform routine developer operations like checking error logs and creating pull requests for fixable bugs at specified intervals.

Anthropic has developed a new measurement combining theoretical AI capabilities with real-world usage data, finding that programmers and customer service workers face the highest exposure to AI automation. However, unemployment in affected professions has not risen, with only early warning signs appearing among younger workers.

Microsoft is previewing Copilot Tasks, an AI feature that automates routine work by running on Microsoft's cloud infrastructure rather than your device. Users can describe tasks in natural language and schedule them to run on a recurring, one-time, or scheduled basis across browsers and applications.

Google has detailed AppFunctions, a system that allows Gemini to directly control and interact with Android applications, functioning similarly to Anthropic's Model Context Protocol (MCP). The capability enables AI agents to automate tasks across the Android ecosystem by providing structured access to app functionality.

Anthropic is rolling out new desktop features for Claude Code that automate additional steps in the development workflow. The update extends Claude Code's capabilities beyond the web interface to provide deeper integration with local development environments.