I didn’t realize Claude could do this — 10 features hiding in plain sight

I’ll admit it: for a long time, I used Claude in the most basic way possible. You know, as an alternative to ChatGPT or Gemini. And sure, that works, but Claude is one of those chatbots that has been quietly crushing it for awhile with new, smarter features that often get ignored.

Once I started poking around and using it more intentionally, I realized Claude is definitely worth using as more than a chatbot. It’s a full-on productivity toolbox with features that can help you write, research, analyze, plan, build and even work with files.

The problem is most people don’t realize those features are there, because they’re not always obvious. So here are 10 Claude features hiding in plain sight, plus exactly what I use them for.

1. Artifacts: interactive docs, apps and visualizations

I’ll start with my favorite Claude feature: Artifacts. They’re one of those tools that feel almost invisible at first because they don’t show up like a typical chatbot reply.

Artifacts are a special output format that lets Claude create a separate, editable “workspace” alongside your chat instead of dropping everything into one long block of text. Think of it like a mini document area where Claude can build something you can actually work with, like a draft, a table, a plan, a chunk of code or even a simple interactive app-style layout.

The best part is that it keeps your work clean and usable. Rather than burying your output in the chat thread, Claude places it into an Artifact where it’s easier to read, edit, copy, reuse and keep refining as you go.

What I use it for:

• Outlines that stay organized
• Drafts I can keep refining
• Interactive planning docs that don’t get lost in the chat

Try this prompt: Create an artifact that’s a reusable template for my company's newsletter with sections and placeholders.

2. Style settings: you can customize how Claude writes

If you’ve ever thought, “This is good, but it doesn’t sound like me,” this is the fix you should know about.

Claude can adapt its writing style based on your preferences — tone, formatting, how punchy you want it, how formal you want it and even how much personality to include.

I use these style settings all the time for characters in my novels but also to polish emails when I want to add an extra touch of professionalism.

What I use it for:

• Keeping my voice consistent
• Switching between “editor mode” and “draft mode”
• Getting outputs that don’t feel generic

Try this prompt: Write a friendly but firm email asking for a refund. Keep it calm, clear, and direct, and include the order number and what resolution I want.

3. Memory + preferences (so you don’t have to repeat yourself)

Claude hasn't always had memory, but now that it does, it's impactful in a big way. Memory is one of those features you don't truly appreciate until you've wasted time repeating the same instructions over and over.

Claude can now remember certain preferences and use them across chats depending on how your setup works, which makes it feel more like a long-term assistant than a one-off tool.

What I use it for:

• Consistent tone and formatting
• Faster drafting with fewer corrections
• Smoother workflows when I’m juggling a million things

Try this prompt: Remember that I hate long explanations — give me the quick version first, then details if I ask.

4. Natural conversation

Claude's conversation style is seriously underrated. One example that underscores this is when I was using it to edit a novel and randomly asked it a question (completely off topic), the chatbot practically scolded me. It made me laugh when it said something like, "Hey, where did this come from? I thought we were chatting about [name of my novel]."

The personality on this chatbot comes through in the conversation but isn't snarky or sarcastic like other chatbots (looking at you, Grok). Beyond simple questions and answers, Claude offers real back-and-forth where you can clarify, revise, ask follow-ups and actually get somewhere.

What I use it for:

• Talking through ideas before I write
• Getting unstuck mid-project
• Asking “does this make sense?” without feeling judged

Try this prompt: I’m stuck. Ask me 5 questions to figure out what I’m really trying to say.

5. Claude Skills

Claude Skills are basically ready-made workflows you can use when you don’t feel like writing the perfect prompt. Instead of starting from a blank chat every time, Skills let you tap into specific “modes” Claude is already good at — like summarizing, rewriting, brainstorming, outlining or turning messy notes into something usable.

It’s one of the easiest ways to get consistent results fast, especially when you’re doing the same types of tasks over and over.

What I use it for:

• Rewriting something in a specific tone (friendly, firm, more confident)
• Summarizing long text into quick takeaways
• Turning a brain dump into a clean outline
• Generating ideas when I’m stuck (headlines, hooks, angles)
• Making checklists and next steps from messy info

Try this prompt: Use a Skill to summarize this into 5 key points, then rewrite it in a clearer, more confident tone.

6. Claude can help you code (even if you’re not a developer)

I always assumed you had to be “a coding person” to get value from AI coding help. But Claude makes it surprisingly approachable — whether you’re building something from scratch or just trying to fix one annoying error.

You can ask it to write code, explain what the code does in plain English, debug issues or even improve something you already have. It works across a bunch of languages too, so you’re not stuck in one lane.

What I use it for:

• Writing quick scripts and templates
• Debugging errors without spiraling
• Translating “what I want” into actual code
• Explaining code like a human, not a textbook

Try this prompt: Here’s what I want to build: [describe it]. Write the code, then explain it like I’m smart but not a programmer.

7. Problem-solving across multiple domains (not just “writing help”)

Claude is surprisingly useful for so much more than writing and creative work. While most people lean on it for that because of the chatbot's incredible ability to grasp voice and tone, models like Sonnet 4.5 is also strong at practical problem-solving, especially when you need to think through something step by step.

Math, logic, planning, strategy, decision-making — it’s all fair game.

What I use it for:

• Breaking down complex tasks into doable steps
• Comparing options quickly
• Making decisions without spiraling

Try this prompt: Help me solve this step by step, and explain your reasoning as you go.

8. File support: Claude can work with what you upload

One of the most surprising developments in the Claude ecosystem is the new feature known as Claude Cowork, an agentic feature that can actually execute tasks for you rather than just respond to prompts.

Instead of treating Claude like a “chat-only assistant,” Cowork lets you give Claude a clear task and then step away while it works toward an outcome. You point it at a folder on your computer and describe what you want done — and it can organize files, synthesize information, build documents and handle multi-step workflows for you, updating you as it progresses.

What I use it for:

• Turning a messy folder of notes into a clean summary
• Pulling action items out of long docs without rereading everything
• Creating a first draft of a report, plan, or outline from scattered files
• Organizing info into sections I can actually use (instead of a giant wall of text)
• Getting “next steps” when I don’t even know where to start

Try this prompt: Act like my coworker. Go through these files and give me: a 10-bullet summary, the 5 most important takeaways, the 5 action items, and what needs my attention first.

9. Deep research (for the heavy lifting)

Sometimes you don’t want quick answers. You want a full investigation.

Claude’s deep research mode is designed for those moments where you need the chatbot to gather information, synthesize it, and deliver something more like a mini-report than a chat response. Ever since Claude made Deep Research available for Pro subscribers, I've found myself using it even more. It's one of the reasons I have kept my Pro subscription.

What I use it for:

• Background research for feature stories
• Comparing tools, companies, trends
• Building a “what’s happening and why it matters” section fast

Try this: Do deep research on this topic and give me a summary, key arguments, counterpoints, and sources I can cite.

10. Claude Connectors

Claude Connectors let you link Claude to the tools you already use — like your email, calendar, docs or storage — so it can work with your real context instead of starting from scratch every time. It’s one of the easiest ways to make Claude feel less like a chatbot and more like a genuine assistant.

Instead of you manually hunting down details across apps and copy/pasting everything into a prompt, connectors let Claude pull in what it needs so you can ask smarter questions and get more useful outputs.

What I use it for:

• Summarizing long documents without manually copying them over
• Pulling key points from notes and turning them into a clean plan
• Finding the important info buried in a file fast (dates, names, decisions)
• Turning scattered info into a draft, checklist, or action items
• Getting quick “what matters most” summaries when I’m short on time

Try this: Look through the connected files related to [topic]. Summarize the key points, pull out action items, and list what I should do next.

The one thing Claude still can't do: generate images

One of the downsides to Claude is that it still can't generate images like ChatGPT or Gemini. While it's great for writing, planning and research, don't expect it to create images. If you’re hoping to type “make me a picture of…” and get an actual AI image back, Claude isn’t the tool for that.

That said, it’s still useful for visuals in a different way because it can help you plan the image you want, refine the concept and write a clean prompt you can paste into an image generator.

What I use it for:

• Coming up with hero image ideas that match the story
• Writing better image prompts for other tools
• Describing layouts, lighting, style and mood clearly
• Brainstorming multiple visual directions fast

Try this prompt: Write me 5 image prompts for a realistic hero image for this topic. Include subject, background, lighting, mood, and camera angle.

Bottom line

Claude is easy to underestimate because it’s not trying to be flashy and tends to focus more on privacy than launching new features every other week.

But once you start using it like a toolkit — conversation, writing, file help, web search, deep research, artifacts and customization — it becomes one of those AI tools that boosts productivity and makes your day easier.

Many of these features are already available for free and simply hiding in plain sight.

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