Anthropic · 2026-09-16 · major
Cowork folds into Claude — Anthropic adds Claude Docs and Claude Slides
Anthropic merged Claude Cowork into Claude chat, so there is no mode to pick: Claude decides whether to answer quickly or run a longer job. Claude Docs and Claude Slides launch in beta, and Claude Design now works inside conversations.
Anthropic removed the line between Claude chat and Claude Cowork, and put document and slide editing inside the conversation.
Quick facts
| Maker | Anthropic |
|---|---|
| What's new | Cowork merges into Claude chat |
| New in beta | Claude Docs, Claude Slides |
| First on | Pro and Max plans |
| Then | Team and Free, Enterprise last |
| Enterprise notice | At least 30 days |
| Slides export | PowerPoint or PDF |
What is it?
Claude Cowork is no longer a separate mode. On 16 September 2026 Anthropic folded it into the main Claude app, so there is nothing to toggle: you describe what you need, and Claude picks the path. That can be a quick answer, or a longer piece of work such as research, a report, a spreadsheet or a presentation, handed back as a finished file you can edit.
How does it work?
Routing happens per request rather than per tab. Two new beta surfaces carry the output: Claude Docs is a document you and Claude write together, where you can add sections, ask questions and leave comments, and Claude Slides drafts a deck you can edit, present from inside Claude, or download as PowerPoint or PDF. Claude Design, which used to stand alone, now runs inside conversations. A setting controls how independent Claude is, from asking before every action to working continuously and checking in only when needed.
Why does it matter?
Choosing the right Claude product before starting a task was overhead that bought the user nothing, and this merge deletes it. Anthropic is shipping to Pro and Max subscribers first over the coming weeks, then Team and Free, with Enterprise administrators given at least 30 days' notice. Nothing is lost in the move: Cowork chats, projects, artifacts, connectors and skills stay in place, and documents and slides are shareable by link and editable on a phone.
Who is it for?
Claude Pro and Max subscribers
Frequently asked questions
- Which Claude plans get the merged experience first?
- Anthropic is rolling the merged Claude out to Pro and Max subscribers first, across web, desktop and mobile, over the coming weeks. Team and Free plans follow after that. Enterprise plans come last, and Anthropic says it will notify Enterprise administrators at least 30 days before the change reaches them.
- What happens to my existing Cowork chats and projects?
- Existing Claude Cowork chats, projects, artifacts, connectors and skills stay where they are and remain reachable after the merge. What goes away is the Cowork toggle, so there is no separate mode to switch into. Anthropic says the Cowork name itself will eventually disappear, though it may still show up during the rollout.
- Can Claude Slides export to PowerPoint?
- Claude Slides, which launches in beta, drafts a deck you can edit directly, present from inside Claude, or download as a PowerPoint file or a PDF. Slides and documents are also shareable by link and editable on mobile, so a deck started on a desktop can be checked from a phone.
- How much work will Claude do without asking first?
- The merged Claude lets you set how far it goes on its own. At one end Claude asks before it takes an action; at the other it keeps working and checks in only when it needs you. Routing is automatic either way: Claude judges whether a request is a quick answer or a longer job such as research, a report or a deck.
Try it
Open Claude on web, desktop or mobile and ask it for a document or a deck