Anthropic has introduced a new feature for its AI chatbot, Claude, that lets users access third-party apps directly within the chat interface. This update aims to make workflows smoother by embedding tools into conversations. The new capability is called interactive apps and is built on a new extension called MCP Apps, which is part of the open-source Model Context Protocol (MCP).

Enhancing AI with Embedded Applications

MCP Apps were first proposed in November and have since been developed with help from OpenAI’s Apps SDK. This technology allows tools like Amplitude, Asana, Box, Canva, Clay, Figma, Hex, monday.com, and Slack to appear directly inside the chat window. Instead of just showing text or search results, these apps now function as interactive UI components that users can engage with during a conversation.

Anthropic explained in a blog post that Claude already connects to various tools and can perform actions on behalf of users. The new feature takes this a step further by displaying those tools right in the chat, enabling real-time collaboration and more transparent workflows. The initial list of supported apps is limited but will grow, with Salesforce’s Agentforce 360 expected to be added soon, and other applications planned for future integration.

Making Enterprise AI More Seamless

This shift from a simple chatbot to an integrated application environment is seen as a way to help enterprises deploy AI at scale. By making it easier to connect and interact with different tools within Claude, organizations can reduce setup time and minimize integration hurdles. Industry experts say this could lead to broader, more reliable AI adoption in business processes.

For developers, this means faster iteration cycles and increased productivity since they won’t need to build complex integrations from scratch. Instead, they can leverage the new interactive app framework to create multi-step workflows that produce results without extensive custom coding. This approach simplifies building AI-powered solutions and could accelerate deployment across various teams and functions.

Broader Impact on Business Productivity

The benefits aren’t limited to developers. Business teams can also gain from this integration. Since multiple applications are embedded directly into Claude’s interface, users won’t need to switch between different systems or manually copy outputs. Everything happens within the chat, streamlining tasks and reducing the time spent moving data around.

This approach highlights a growing trend in AI architecture. While Anthropic and OpenAI are focusing on embedding apps inside the AI interface itself, other tech giants like Microsoft and Google are working on embedding AI directly into their productivity tools, such as Microsoft 365 Copilot. Both strategies aim to boost productivity by making AI more accessible and easier to use within everyday workflows.

Overall, Anthropic’s new interactive apps feature marks a step toward more integrated and capable AI systems. By embedding third-party tools into chat conversations, businesses can unlock new efficiencies and make AI a more natural part of their work processes. This development points to a future where AI and applications work hand-in-hand to support everyday tasks more seamlessly than ever before.

Inspired by

• https://www.infoworld.com/article/4122745/anthropic-integrates-third%e2%80%91party-apps-into-claude-reshaping-enterprise-ai-workflows-2.html

Sources

• modelcontextprotocol.io
• modelcontextprotocol.io
• claude.com
• hfsresearch.com
• forrester.com