Claude merges chat and Cowork, bringing documents into the conversation

Using Claude has meant choosing between a conversation in chat and a separate Cowork session for work involving files and tools. Anthropic is bringing those experiences together, so a request can move from discussion to execution without requiring a different workspace.

The rollout starts with Pro and Max over several weeks. If your account still shows separate Chat and Cowork options, there is no hidden setting you missed. Your account has not migrated yet. People on the same subscription may therefore see different interfaces for a while.

Documents you can keep working on

Docs and Slides extend that change to the output itself. Claude can create editable documents and presentations rather than leaving you with a response to copy elsewhere. Slides is also a paid-plan beta, with presentations playable inside Claude or downloadable as PowerPoint and PDF. This is a different kind of update from Fable 5.1 and Mythos 5.1: it changes the workspace around the model, not just the model answering your prompt.

The Docs support page lists exports to Word, PDF, Markdown and Google Docs. That matters when someone needs to review your work outside Claude. Two limitations deserve attention before you make it your main editor: charts do not refresh automatically, and version history is not available yet.

Docs is in beta for Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise. Enterprise access also depends on administrator settings and the organization's configuration. A colleague having the feature does not necessarily mean your account will have it too.

Which tasks survive a closed laptop?

The merged experience distinguishes cloud work from jobs that need your computer. Anthropic's migration guide says cloud tasks can continue after you close your laptop. Tasks involving local files or applications still require Claude Desktop to remain open.

Before delegating a task to an AI agent, check where the required materials are stored. Their location determines whether the job can continue in the cloud or needs your computer to remain available.

For an important document, keep a separate copy before making substantial changes in Docs. Editing inside the conversation may save you trips between applications, but without version history, that earlier copy remains worth keeping.