Getting started with Claude

Claude is an AI assistant made by Anthropic. You ask it questions, give it tasks and show it files in writing, and it replies in writing. This article is here to make your first few minutes easier.

Where to open it

In a browser, go to claude.ai. There are also apps for iPhone and Android, and desktop apps for Mac and Windows; you sign in with the same account everywhere and see the same chats. You can sign up with an email address or a Google account.

The free plan is enough to try it out and for small everyday tasks. Paid plans give you more usage and extra features; current plans and terms are on Claude's own pricing page.

Your first chat

Type what you want in the box at the bottom of the screen. Instead of short keywords, as you would in a search engine, write the way you'd explain it to a colleague: who you are, what you want and why.

If the answer isn't what you expected, don't start a new chat; correct it in the same one. "Make it shorter" or "can you expand on point two" is enough. Claude remembers everything written since the start of the chat. We cover how to write better requests in how to write a good prompt.

Sharing files and images

Use the paperclip button next to the box to add a PDF, a Word document, a spreadsheet or an image. For example:

• Add a contract and ask "list my obligations point by point",
• Add a photo of a menu and ask "translate this into Turkish",
• Add a spreadsheet and ask "find the five best-selling products".

Think twice before adding confidential documents or your customers' personal details.

Projects for recurring work

If you do the same kind of work often, create a project. You write instructions and add documents to it once: an introduction to your business, your price list, your writing style. Every chat you open in that project starts out knowing this, so you don't have to explain it again each time.

Searching the web

When Claude needs up-to-date information it can search the web and shows its sources under the answer. For anything important, click through and check those sources yourself.

Remember

Claude can be wrong too. Check what it tells you about figures, dates, names and legal matters. Get the first draft from Claude; do the final check yourself.