On Monday (local time), Anthropic unveiled a brand - new functionality for its Claude chatbot. Now, users have the ability to directly launch interactive applications right within the conversation interface to tackle work - related tasks.

The first wave of applications is centered around enterprise office tools. It includes well - known names like Slack, Canva, Figma, Box, and Clay. Moreover, there are plans to offer support for Salesforce integration in the future.

Only eligible subscribers on the Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise plans can activate these tools. Free users, unfortunately, won't have access to this feature.

Once an application is activated, Claude gains the capability to access the logged - in service instance. This enables it to perform a variety of operations, such as sending messages on Slack, creating charts, and accessing files stored in the cloud.

This innovative feature is constructed on the Model Context Protocol (MCP), which is quite similar to OpenAI's Apps system. Anthropic has stated that when combined with Claude's advanced intelligence, these tools can significantly boost efficiency in tasks like data analysis, content design, and project management.

Furthermore, when integrated with the versatile agent tool Claude Cowork, users can assign multi - stage tasks and grant access to cloud files or work projects. For instance, Cowork can update marketing graphics in Figma or make use of new data from a Box instance.

However, considering the inherent unpredictability of agent systems, Anthropic advises users to keep a close eye on the agent's behavior. Exercise caution when allowing access to sensitive information, and it might be a good idea to create dedicated work folders specifically for Claude.