Anthropic Launches Claude 4: The AI That Codes Better Than Ever Before
After months of waiting, Anthropic just dropped Claude 4, and it's like going from a bicycle to a sports car when it comes to coding assistance.
The company released two new models today: Claude Opus 4 and Claude Sonnet 4. Think of them as the premium and standard versions of their latest AI – both incredibly capable, but designed for different needs and budgets.
Why Should You Care?
Here's what makes this announcement special:
🚀 World's Best at Writing Code
Claude Opus 4 isn't just good at coding – it's officially the best in the world. It scored 72.5% on something called SWE-bench, which is basically the SATs for AI coding abilities. To put that in perspective, it's like having a senior developer who never gets tired and can work for hours straight.
💭 It Can Think While It Works
This is where things get really interesting. These new models can actually use tools (like searching the web) while they're thinking through problems. Imagine having a coworker who can instantly look up documentation, check Stack Overflow, and implement solutions – all in one smooth workflow.
💰 Same Price as Before
Despite being significantly more powerful, Anthropic kept the pricing exactly the same:
- Opus 4: $15 per million input tokens / $75 per million output tokens
- Sonnet 4: $3 per million input tokens / $15 per million output tokens
(Don't worry about what tokens are – just know that for most users, this translates to very reasonable costs for AI assistance)
What Can These Models Actually Do?
For Developers
Big names like GitHub, Cursor, and Replit are already raving about Claude 4. GitHub is even making Claude Sonnet 4 the base model for their Copilot coding assistant. Here's what developers are experiencing:
- Longer focus: Claude can work on complex tasks for several hours without losing track
- Better memory: When given access to files, it creates its own "memory notes" to stay organized
- Fewer shortcuts: 65% less likely to take lazy shortcuts when completing tasks
For Everyone Else
Even if you're not a coder, Claude 4 brings improvements that matter:
- More precise responses to your instructions
- Better at complex reasoning and problem-solving
- Available in free, Pro, and Team plans
The Cool New Features
🛠️ Claude Code Goes Mainstream
Remember that experimental Claude Code feature? It's now fully available and integrates directly with popular coding tools like VS Code and JetBrains. Developers can literally see Claude's suggestions appear right in their code files.
🧠 Extended Thinking Mode
Both models can now take extra time to think through complex problems. It's like the difference between a quick text response and a thoughtful email – sometimes you need that extra processing power.
📁 Better Memory Management
When developers give Claude access to local files, Opus 4 can create and maintain its own "memory files." One fascinating example: it created a navigation guide while playing Pokémon, keeping track of important locations and objectives.
Who's Already Using It?
Major tech companies are jumping on board:
- GitHub: Making it their primary model for coding assistance
- Cursor: Calling it "state-of-the-art for coding"
- Rakuten: Successfully ran a 7-hour refactoring task
- Sourcegraph: Reports it understands problems more deeply and writes more elegant code
How to Get Started
Ready to try Claude 4? Here are your options:
- Free users: Get access to Claude Sonnet 4 at claude.ai
- Pro/Team users: Access both models with extended thinking capabilities
- Developers: Use the API with the same pricing as before
- Enterprise: Contact sales for custom solutions
The Bottom Line
Claude 4 represents a significant leap forward in AI capabilities, especially for coding and complex problem-solving. Whether you're a developer looking for a powerful coding assistant or a business seeking better AI tools, these new models offer impressive capabilities at competitive prices.
The fact that major companies like GitHub are already integrating Claude 4 speaks volumes about its real-world performance. And with pricing staying the same despite massive improvements, there's never been a better time to explore what AI can do for your workflow.
