How to use Claude as a personal agent
There is nothing to switch on: on Pro and Max, Claude now decides whether a message is a quick answer or a task to work through. Setup is about connectors and skills.
What you need
- Claude Pro ($20) or Max ($100 or $200)
- Claude on web, desktop or mobile
- A country where Claude is available
Steps
- 1
Check you have the merged experience
If your message box no longer shows separate Chat and Cowork options, your account has it. The rollout takes a few weeks.
- 2
Add connectors
Connect the tools your work lives in, such as Google Drive, Notion, Slack or GitHub. Claude asks for permission before acting in them.
- 3
Add skills for repeat work
Save instructions for jobs you do often, such as your report format or brand style. Skills carry across every conversation.
- 4
Hand over a real task
Describe the outcome and deadline, for example a competitor summary as slides by noon. You can close your laptop; Claude keeps going.
- 5
Edit the result in Docs or Slides
Claude returns editable files. Docs and Slides are in beta and export to PowerPoint or PDF.
Tips from experience
- Be explicit about sources Claude may use; connectors widen what it can read.
- Usage may be measured slightly differently during the rollout, so watch Settings, Usage.
- Team and Free plans get the merged experience later.