Anthropic Unveils Interactive Claude Apps for Enhanced Productivity in Slack and Beyond
Anthropic has announced a groundbreaking feature that allows Claude users to access interactive applications directly within the chatbot interface, marking a significant step towards optimizing workplace productivity. This feature, revealed on Monday, introduces a suite of workplace tools available for integration with Claude, including popular platforms such as Slack, Canva, Figma, Box, and Clay; with further integration for Salesforce anticipated shortly.
The interactive apps enable users to efficiently send messages on Slack, generate visual charts, and retrieve cloud files directly through the Claude interface. This new functionality aligns with Anthropic’s commitment to enhancing enterprise solutions and aims to streamline various work processes.
“Utilizing a dedicated visual interface for analyzing data, designing content, and managing projects increases efficiency,” stated Anthropic in a recent blog post. “When combined with Claude’s intelligent capabilities, users can experience a notable acceleration in their workflows.”
Access to this feature is currently available exclusively for Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise subscribers, while free users remain excluded. Eligible users can enable these tools at claude.ai/directory.
Mirroring OpenAI’s Apps system launched in October, Anthropic’s apps are built on the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard introduced in 2024. This protocol facilitates seamless third-party tool integrations, enhancing user experiences across the platforms.
The integration will be especially powerful when coupled with Claude Cowork, Anthropic’s recently launched agent tool. Cowork utilizes Claude Code to execute complex tasks that previously required terminal commands, enhancing workflow capabilities. Although apps will not be available in Cowork at the initial launch, Anthropic has announced that this integration will be implemented soon.
As with all agentic systems, Anthropic emphasizes the importance of monitoring usage due to the unpredictable nature of AI. Their safety guidelines advise caution regarding access to sensitive information, recommending users create dedicated folders for Claude to limit exposure to critical data.
This latest innovation is set to revolutionize how users interact with workplace software through AI, bringing faster execution and increased productivity.
