Leveraging AI 259 | “Claude Cowork” is Claude Code for All Work, Anthropic jumps to a $350 B valuation 💥 Apple swaps Siri’s brain for Gemini, hiring recession hits hard, and more AI news for the week ending on January 16, 2026
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Jan 17, 2026 Discover how Claude Cowork is revolutionizing productivity by turning static folders into intelligent workflows. The competitive dynamics between Anthropic and Microsoft heat up as funding surges and new AI tools emerge. Tune in for insights on AI's potential to replace traditional office suites and the implications for knowledge workers. Plus, explore how Apple is integrating Gemini to transform Siri and the challenges posed by the hiring recession as automation accelerates. Get the latest scoop on cutting-edge AI developments shaping the future!
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Agents Acting On Your Files
- Claude Cowork connects Claude to folders so models can act on real files and automate workflows.
- This shifts productivity from document apps to agentic AI that produces goal-focused outputs.
Tooling Beats Model Nuance
- Anthropic used Cloud Code to build new tools quickly, showing tooling multiplies model value.
- Tooling and fast iteration matter more than marginal model improvements for product impact.
Limit Agent Access To Trusted Folders
- Treat agentic access to local data as a risk and limit scope to specific folders you trust.
- Keep backups and only grant access when you accept the potential data changes or loss.