I’ll admit it: for a very long time, I used Claude in probably the most primary approach potential. You understand, as a substitute for ChatGPT or Gemini. And positive, that works, however Claude is a type of chatbots that has been quietly crushing it for awhile with new, smarter options that usually get ignored.
As soon as I began poking round and utilizing it extra deliberately, I spotted Claude is unquestionably price utilizing as greater than a chatbot. It’s a full-on productiveness toolbox with options that may assist you write, analysis, analyze, plan, construct and even work with information.
The issue is most individuals don’t notice these options are there, as a result of they’re not all the time apparent. So listed here are 10 Claude options hiding in plain sight, plus precisely what I take advantage of them for.
1. Artifacts: interactive docs, apps and visualizations
I’ll start with my favorite Claude feature: Artifacts. They’re a type of instruments that really feel virtually invisible at first as a result of they don’t present up like a typical chatbot reply.
Artifacts are a special output format that lets Claude create a separate, editable “workspace” alongside your chat instead of dropping everything into one long block of text. Think of it like a mini document area where Claude can build something you can actually work with, like a draft, a table, a plan, a chunk of code or even a simple interactive app-style layout.
The best part is that it keeps your work clean and usable. Rather than burying your output in the chat thread, Claude places it into an Artifact where it’s easier to read, edit, copy, reuse and keep refining as you go.
What I use it for:
- Outlines that stay organized
- Drafts I can keep refining
- Interactive planning docs that don’t get lost in the chat
Try this prompt: Create an artifact that’s a reusable template for my company’s newsletter with sections and placeholders.
2. Style settings: you can customize how Claude writes
If you’ve ever thought, “This is good, but it doesn’t sound like me,” this is the fix you should know about.
Claude can adapt its writing style based on your preferences — tone, formatting, how punchy you want it, how formal you want it and even how much personality to include.
I use these style settings all the time for characters in my novels but also to polish emails when I want to add an extra touch of professionalism.
What I use it for:
- Keeping my voice consistent
- Switching between “editor mode” and “draft mode”
- Getting outputs that don’t feel generic
Try this prompt: Write a friendly but firm email asking for a refund. Keep it calm, clear, and direct, and include the order number and what resolution I want.
3. Memory + preferences (so you don’t have to repeat yourself)
Claude hasn’t always had memory, but now that it does, it’s impactful in a big way. Memory is a type of options you do not really recognize till you’ve got wasted time repeating the identical directions again and again.
Claude can now bear in mind sure preferences and use them throughout chats relying on how your setup works, which makes it really feel extra like a long-term assistant than a one-off software.
What I take advantage of it for:
- Constant tone and formatting
- Sooner drafting with fewer corrections
- Smoother workflows once I’m juggling 1,000,000 issues
Do this immediate: Do not forget that I hate lengthy explanations — give me the short model first, then particulars if I ask.
4. Natural conversation
Claude’s conversation style is seriously underrated. One example that underscores this is when I was using it to edit a novel and randomly asked it a question (completely off topic), the chatbot practically scolded me. It made me laugh when it said something like, “Hey, where did this come from? I thought we were chatting about [name of my novel].”
The personality on this chatbot comes through in the conversation but isn’t snarky or sarcastic like other chatbots (looking at you, Grok). Past easy questions and solutions, Claude provides actual back-and-forth the place you’ll be able to make clear, revise, ask follow-ups and really get someplace.
What I take advantage of it for:
- Speaking by way of concepts earlier than I write
- Getting unstuck mid-project
- Asking “does this make sense?” with out feeling judged
Do this immediate: I’m caught. Ask me 5 questions to determine what I’m actually attempting to say.
5. Claude Skills
Claude Skills are principally ready-made workflows you need to use while you don’t really feel like writing the right immediate. As a substitute of ranging from a clean chat each time, Expertise allow you to faucet into particular “modes” Claude is already good at — like summarizing, rewriting, brainstorming, outlining or turning messy notes into one thing usable.
It’s one of many best methods to get constant outcomes quick, particularly while you’re doing the identical kinds of duties again and again.
What I take advantage of it for:
- Rewriting one thing in a selected tone (pleasant, agency, extra assured)
- Summarizing lengthy textual content into fast takeaways
- Turning a mind dump right into a clear define
- Producing concepts once I’m caught (headlines, hooks, angles)
- Making checklists and subsequent steps from messy information
Do this immediate: Use a Talent to summarize this into 5 key factors, then rewrite it in a clearer, extra assured tone.
6. Claude can help you code (even if you’re not a developer)
I always assumed you had to be “a coding person” to get value from AI coding assist. However Claude makes it surprisingly approachable — whether or not you’re constructing one thing from scratch or simply attempting to repair one annoying error.
You may ask it to write down code, clarify what the code does in plain English, debug points and even enhance one thing you have already got. It really works throughout a bunch of languages too, so that you’re not caught in a single lane.
What I take advantage of it for:
- Writing fast scripts and templates
- Debugging errors with out spiraling
- Translating “what I would like” into precise code
- Explaining code like a human, not a textbook
Do this immediate: Right here’s what I need to construct: [describe it]. Write the code, then clarify it like I’m good however not a programmer.
7. Problem-solving across multiple domains (not just “writing help”)
Claude is surprisingly useful for so much more than writing and creative work. While most people lean on it for that because of the chatbot’s incredible ability to grasp voice and tone, models like Sonnet 4.5 can also be sturdy at sensible problem-solving, particularly when it’s essential to suppose by way of one thing step-by-step.
Math, logic, planning, technique, decision-making — it’s all honest recreation.
What I take advantage of it for:
- Breaking down advanced duties into doable steps
- Evaluating choices shortly
- Making choices with out spiraling
Do this immediate: Assist me remedy this step-by-step, and clarify your reasoning as you go.
8. File support: Claude can work with what you upload
One of the most surprising developments in the Claude ecosystem is the new feature known as Claude Cowork, an agentic characteristic that may really execute duties for you quite than simply reply to prompts.
As a substitute of treating Claude like a “chat-only assistant,” Cowork permits you to give Claude a transparent activity after which step away whereas it really works towards an end result. You level it at a folder in your pc and describe what you need executed — and it might arrange information, synthesize data, construct paperwork and deal with multi-step workflows for you, updating you because it progresses.
What I take advantage of it for:
- Turning a messy folder of notes right into a clear abstract
- Pulling motion gadgets out of lengthy docs with out rereading every part
- Creating a primary draft of a report, plan, or define from scattered information
- Organizing information into sections I can really use (as a substitute of a large wall of textual content)
- Getting “subsequent steps” once I don’t even know the place to start out
Do this immediate: Act like my coworker. Undergo these information and provides me: a 10-bullet abstract, the 5 most vital takeaways, the 5 motion gadgets, and what wants my consideration first.
9. Deep research (for the heavy lifting)
Sometimes you don’t want quick answers. You want a full investigation.
Claude’s deep research mode is designed for these moments the place you want the chatbot to collect data, synthesize it, and ship one thing extra like a mini-report than a chat response. Ever since Claude made Deep Analysis out there for Professional subscribers, I’ve discovered myself utilizing it much more. It is one of many causes I’ve saved my Pro subscription.
What I take advantage of it for:
- Background analysis for characteristic tales
- Evaluating instruments, firms, developments
- Constructing a “what’s occurring and why it issues” part quick
Do this: Do deep analysis on this matter and provides me a abstract, key arguments, counterpoints, and sources I can cite.
10. Claude Connectors
Claude Connectors allow you to hyperlink Claude to the instruments you already use — like your electronic mail, calendar, docs or storage — so it might work together with your actual context as a substitute of ranging from scratch each time. It’s one of many best methods to make Claude really feel much less like a chatbot and extra like a real assistant.
As a substitute of you manually looking down particulars throughout apps and replica/pasting every part right into a immediate, connectors let Claude pull in what it wants so you’ll be able to ask smarter questions and get extra helpful outputs.
What I take advantage of it for:
- Summarizing lengthy paperwork with out manually copying them over
- Pulling key factors from notes and turning them right into a clear plan
- Discovering the vital information buried in a file quick (dates, names, choices)
- Turning scattered information right into a draft, guidelines, or motion gadgets
- Getting fast “what issues most” summaries once I’m quick on time
Do this: Look by way of the linked information associated to [topic]. Summarize the important thing factors, pull out motion gadgets, and listing what I ought to do subsequent.
The one thing Claude still can’t do: generate images
One of the downsides to Claude is that it still can’t generate images like ChatGPT or Gemini. While it’s great for writing, planning and research, don’t expect it to create images. If you’re hoping to type “make me a picture of…” and get an actual AI image back, Claude isn’t the tool for that.
That said, it’s still useful for visuals in a different way because it can help you plan the image you want, refine the concept and write a clean prompt you can paste into an image generator.
What I use it for:
- Coming up with hero image ideas that match the story
- Writing better image prompts for other tools
- Describing layouts, lighting, style and mood clearly
- Brainstorming multiple visual directions fast
Try this prompt: Write me 5 image prompts for a realistic hero image for this topic. Include subject, background, lighting, mood, and camera angle.
Bottom line
Claude is easy to underestimate because it’s not trying to be flashy and tends to focus more on privacy than launching new options each different week.
However when you begin utilizing it like a toolkit — dialog, writing, file assist, internet search, deep analysis, artifacts and customization — it turns into a type of AI instruments that reinforces productiveness and makes your day simpler.
Many of those options are already out there at no cost and easily hiding in plain sight.
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