Anthropic Merges Claude Chat and Cowork Memory
Anthropic has merged the memory behind Claude chat and Claude Cowork, with context flowing both ways by default. According to the company, this feature is available on Free, Pro, and Max plans, and it excludes sensitive topics like health, politics, and gender identity unless users opt in.
Key Changes:
- Memory Integration: Anything shared in a chat window with Claude is now accessible to Claude Cowork, and vice versa.
- Real-time Memory Updates: Claude now adds topics to memory while conversations are ongoing, eliminating the need to summarize at the end.
- Sensitive Topic Control: By default, Claude does not store information on health, race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, politics, or gender identity. Users can opt in for specific sensitive topics, like a gluten allergy.
How it Works:
- When brainstorming a conference agenda in chat, Cowork can use that information to draft a budget document, incorporating headcount, location, and speakers.
- Users can review, edit, or delete specific memories stored under "Topics" in memory settings, with corrections applying across the board.
Exclusions:
Social security numbers, government identification, criminal history, immigration status, and content breaching Anthropic’s acceptable use policy will not be stored.
Future Steps:
While the announcement focuses primarily on Cowork and chat, the integration leaves room for future developments, suggesting the merge is not complete.