- Anthropic has debuted two new claude AI models named Claude Opus 4 and Claude Sonnet 4
- Claude Opus 4 claims to be the best coding AI in the world
- Claude Sonnet 4 is a smaller, streamlined model with larger upgrades from Sonnet 3.7 version.
Anthropic has revealed Claude 4, the latest generation of its AI models. The company boasts that the new Claude Opus 4 and Claude Sonnet 4 models are at the top of the game for AI assistants with unmatched coding skills and the ability to function independently for long periods.
Claude Sonnet 4 is the smaller model, but it is still a major upgrade in power from the former Sonnet 3.7. Anthropic claims Sonnet 4 is much better at following instructions and coding. It has even been adopted by GitHub to operate a new copilot coding agent. It will probably be much more widespread, simply because it is the standard model at the free level to Claude Chatbot.
Claude Opus 4 is the flagship model of anthropic and allegedly the best coding AI around. It can also handle sustained, multi-hour tasks and break them in thousands of steps to fulfill. OPUS 4 also includes “extended thinking” function that anthropically tested on previous models. Extended thinking allows the model to pause in the middle of responding to a quick and use search engines and other tools until it has more data and can resume right where it escaped.
It means a lot more than just longer answers. Developers can train OPUS 4 to use all kinds of third -party tools. Opus 4 can even play video games pretty well, with anthropic showing how AI works during a game of Pokémon Red when it gets filed and permission to build its own navigation guide.
Claude 4 Power
Both Claude 4 models boast improved features centered on tool use and memory. Opus 4 and Sonnet 4 can use tools in parallel and switch between reasoning and search. And their memory system can save and extract key facts over time when accessing external files. You don’t have to explain what you want on every third prompt.
To make sure AI does what you want but don’t overwhelm you with any detail, Claude 4’s models also offer what it calls “thinking of summary.” Instead of a wall of text describing each of the potentially thousands of steps taken to complete a quick, claude uses a minor, secondary AI model to condense the mindset of something digestible.
One side advantage of the way the new models work is that they are less likely to cheat to save time and treatment of power. Anthropic said they have reduced shortcut -seeking behavior in tasks that tempt AIS to false their way to a solution (or just do something up).
The bigger picture? Anthropic clearly shoots after the lead in the AI tool, especially in coding and agent, independent tasks. Chatgpt and Google Gemini have larger user bases, but anthropically has the means to lure at least some AI Chatbot users away to Claude. With Sonnet 4 available for free users and OPUS 4, gathered in Claude Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise plans, Anthropic is trying to appeal to both the budget-friendly and Premium AI fans.
