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Anthropic is merging Claude’s chat and Cowork experiences into a single interface, allowing
users to move from simple questions to more complex, multi-step tasks without having to
choose between separate modes.
The company announced the change on September 16, saying the new experience will allow Claude to determine what capabilities a task requires within the same conversation. Users can start with a normal question and hand over larger assignments without switching to a separate Cowork interface.
Previously, Claude Chat and Cowork were separate experiences. Cowork was designed for more involved work, including tasks involving files, connected services, and multiple steps. With the new setup, Anthropic is removing that distinction and making Cowork-style capabilities available directly within regular conversations.
Claude can use the context, skills, and connectors available to the user while handling a task. Anthropic also said larger assignments can continue running after a user closes their laptop, with progress accessible from another device.
Alongside the merger, Anthropic has introduced Claude Docs and Claude Slides, both in beta. Claude Docs allows users to create and edit documents directly within conversations. Claude Slides similarly allows users to create and modify presentations. Documents can be exported to formats such as Microsoft Word and Google Docs, while presentations can be exported as PowerPoint or PDF files. Anthropic is also bringing Claude Design into conversations, eliminating the need to use it as a separate experience.
The company says documents, presentations and design work can be created within the same conversation, allowing users to move between different types of work without switching products.
The unified Claude experience is initially rolling out to Pro and Max subscribers across web, desktop and mobile over the coming weeks. Anthropic said Team and Free plans will follow, while Enterprise administrators will receive at least 30 days' notice before changes are introduced for their organisations.
The change reflects Anthropic's broader effort to make Claude function as a single workspace for both conversational queries and more complex knowledge-work tasks.
Instead of requiring users to decide which Claude experience to use before starting, the platform is designed to determine the capabilities needed during the conversation. For users, the main change is straightforward: there is no longer a separate Chat or Cowork choice for the new experience. Users can simply tell Claude what they need and let it handle the task within the same conversation.
The company announced the change on September 16, saying the new experience will allow Claude to determine what capabilities a task requires within the same conversation. Users can start with a normal question and hand over larger assignments without switching to a separate Cowork interface.
Previously, Claude Chat and Cowork were separate experiences. Cowork was designed for more involved work, including tasks involving files, connected services, and multiple steps. With the new setup, Anthropic is removing that distinction and making Cowork-style capabilities available directly within regular conversations.
Claude can use the context, skills, and connectors available to the user while handling a task. Anthropic also said larger assignments can continue running after a user closes their laptop, with progress accessible from another device.
Alongside the merger, Anthropic has introduced Claude Docs and Claude Slides, both in beta. Claude Docs allows users to create and edit documents directly within conversations. Claude Slides similarly allows users to create and modify presentations. Documents can be exported to formats such as Microsoft Word and Google Docs, while presentations can be exported as PowerPoint or PDF files. Anthropic is also bringing Claude Design into conversations, eliminating the need to use it as a separate experience.
The company says documents, presentations and design work can be created within the same conversation, allowing users to move between different types of work without switching products.
The unified Claude experience is initially rolling out to Pro and Max subscribers across web, desktop and mobile over the coming weeks. Anthropic said Team and Free plans will follow, while Enterprise administrators will receive at least 30 days' notice before changes are introduced for their organisations.
The change reflects Anthropic's broader effort to make Claude function as a single workspace for both conversational queries and more complex knowledge-work tasks.
Instead of requiring users to decide which Claude experience to use before starting, the platform is designed to determine the capabilities needed during the conversation. For users, the main change is straightforward: there is no longer a separate Chat or Cowork choice for the new experience. Users can simply tell Claude what they need and let it handle the task within the same conversation.
