Product Introduction

1. Claude 4 is Anthropic's next-generation AI model family, comprising two specialized models—Claude Opus 4 and Claude Sonnet 4—designed for advanced coding, reasoning, and agentic workflows. These hybrid models operate in two modes: near-instant responses for quick tasks and extended thinking for multi-step problem-solving.
2. The core value lies in setting new industry benchmarks for AI performance, particularly in software engineering (72.5% on SWE-bench) and long-duration agent tasks, while introducing tool-augmented reasoning and memory enhancements for enterprise-scale applications.

Main Features

1. Extended Thinking with Tool Use (Beta): Both models alternate between reasoning and external tool integration (e.g., web search, code execution) during multi-step workflows, enabling up to 64K-token thought processes for complex tasks like refactoring codebases or solving scientific problems.
2. Parallel Tool Execution & Memory Optimization: Models process multiple tools simultaneously (e.g., file editing and bash commands) while maintaining persistent memory files when granted local storage access, reducing navigation errors from 20% to near-zero in codebase operations.
3. Claude Code Ecosystem Integration: General availability includes native IDE plugins (VS Code, JetBrains), GitHub Actions automation, and an SDK for custom agent development, with inline code edits and CI error resolution via PR tagging.

Problems Solved

1. Sustained Performance on Long-Running Tasks: Addresses the collapse of model performance during extended workflows (e.g., 7-hour open-source refactoring) through Opus 4's hour-scale continuous operation and Sonnet 4's improved task persistence.
2. Enterprise-Grade AI Agent Limitations: Targets developers and organizations needing reliable code generation/editing (72.7% SWE-bench accuracy for Sonnet 4) and precise multi-file modifications validated by partners like Replit and Sourcegraph.
3. Context Fragmentation in Complex Projects: Solves knowledge discontinuity via memory file creation (e.g., Pokémon gameplay navigation guides) when models access local storage, improving long-term task coherence and tacit knowledge retention.

Unique Advantages

1. Benchmark Dominance in Coding: Opus 4 achieves world-leading 72.5% SWE-bench and 43.2% Terminal-bench scores, outperforming all Sonnet variants and competitors in real-world software engineering tasks requiring thousands of reasoning steps.
2. Hybrid Reasoning Architecture: Combines instant-response and extended-thinking modes within a single model family, enabling both rapid prototyping (Sonnet 4) and marathon agentic workflows (Opus 4) under consistent API pricing ($15/$75 per million tokens for Opus).
3. Safety-Enhanced Workflows: Reduces shortcut/loophole exploitation by 65% compared to Sonnet 3.7 through improved instruction adherence, with ASL-3 safety protocols and optional Developer Mode for raw chain-of-thought analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What distinguishes Claude Opus 4 from Sonnet 4? Opus 4 specializes in multi-hour agentic tasks with 72.5% SWE-bench accuracy and memory file capabilities, while Sonnet 4 offers cost-efficient coding (72.7% SWE-bench) for general enterprise use at $3/$15 per million tokens.
2. How does extended thinking with tool use work? Models iteratively execute tools (web search, code execution) during 64K-token reasoning windows, validated via TAU-bench improvements with 100-step maximum trajectories and policy-optimized prompts for complex retail/airline agent scenarios.
3. Can Claude 4 models access local files? When developers enable local file access, Opus 4 autonomously creates memory files (e.g., gameplay notes) to maintain task context, while Sonnet 4 focuses on transient session-based improvements in code navigation accuracy.
4. What IDE integrations are available? Claude Code provides native VS Code/JetBrains plugins displaying inline edits, plus GitHub Actions for CI/CD automation via /install-github-app command and PR-triggered agent responses.
5. How does pricing compare to previous models? Opus 4 maintains Opus 3's $15/$75 per million token pricing, while Sonnet 4 remains at Sonnet 3.7's $3/$15 rate, both accessible via Anthropic API, Amazon Bedrock, and Google Vertex AI without tiered availability.