Anthropic Unifies Claude Chat and Cowork Into Single Interface

Anthropic has merged its conversational Claude Chat and agentic Claude Cowork products into a single unified interface, eliminating the need for users to choose between modes. The change, effective September 16, 2026, allows Claude to automatically determine whether a query requires simple chat or complex agentic work based on context, skills, and connectors. Alongside the merger, Anthropic launched Claude Docs and Claude Slides in beta for paid plans, enabling users to create and edit documents and presentations directly within Claude. These tools allow for real-time collaboration, with exports to formats like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, PowerPoint, and PDF. Claude Design, previously a standalone visual tool, is now integrated into conversations. The rollout begins with Pro and Max plan users across web, desktop, and mobile apps, with Team and Free plans to follow later. Enterprise customers will receive at least 30 days' notice before changes apply. Anthropic emphasized that existing Cowork tasks, projects, artifacts, connectors, and skills transfer seamlessly to the unified interface.