How to use Anthropic Opus 4.5 for your business

The quick answer

Anthropic launched Opus 4.5, a new flagship AI model with powerful business tools. Here is how you can start using it:

1. Understand the core improvements of Anthropic Opus 4.5, which include state-of-the-art reasoning, coding, and agentic task execution for your projects.
2. Install the Claude for Chrome extension to let the AI operate your browser, fill out forms, interact with websites, and automate repetitive web-based tasks.
3. Use the Claude for Excel integration to analyze data, create pivot tables, debug formulas, and build new spreadsheets directly from a sidebar in Excel.
4. Leverage "infinite chat" for long-running projects, allowing the AI to maintain context across files and conversations without errors.
5. Identify and pilot an agentic workflow by giving the AI a complex, multi-step business process to automate, taking advantage of its ability to refine its own actions.

What is Anthropic Opus 4.5?

Anthropic has released Opus 4.5, its most capable model to date. This update introduces significant improvements in reasoning and coding, along with new integrations designed for business productivity.

The model is built to handle complex, long-running tasks. It is especially strong at deep research, working with slides, and analyzing spreadsheets. This makes Anthropic Opus 4.5 a practical tool, not just a theoretical one.

Key model improvements

The core engine of Opus 4.5 now delivers state-of-the-art performance in coding and multi-step task execution. It excels at refining its own processes, making it more effective for what are called agentic workflows—where the AI acts as an agent to complete a job for you.

For paid users, the model introduces "infinite chat." This feature allows for effectively unlimited conversation length by automatically summarizing earlier context. You can continue complex projects across files and chats without losing track or hitting context window errors.

Anthropic also highlights that Opus 4.5 is its safest model yet. It features enhanced resistance to prompt injection attacks and better alignment to avoid undesirable behaviors. This focus on safety is critical for businesses adopting AI tools.

How to use the new Chrome integration

One of the most practical new features is Claude for Chrome. This browser extension allows the AI to directly navigate websites and complete tasks for you, turning your browser into an automated work assistant.

The extension was previously in limited access but is now available to all Max plan users. It uses the model's improved context and memory to handle long and complex workflows inside your browser.

Automate your browser tasks

With the Claude for Chrome extension, you can delegate tasks that normally require manual clicks and data entry. The AI can fill out spreadsheets online, interact with web forms, and execute other browser-based jobs.

For example, you could ask it to research competitors, gather data from several public websites, and compile the findings into a document. This frees up your team to focus on strategy instead of manual data collection. Better research helps produce better SEO content that ranks higher and drives results.

A simple workflow for Chrome automation

Getting started with an automated browser task is direct. Follow a clear process to ensure predictable results.

1. Define a clear objective. Tell the AI exactly what you want it to accomplish. For example: "Find the top 5 digital marketing agencies in Austin, Texas, and list their primary services from their websites."
2. Provide the starting point. Give it the initial URL or search query to begin its work.
3. Monitor the process. Watch as the AI navigates pages, extracts information, and follows your instructions. You can intervene or refine the task as it works.
4. Review the output. Check the final document or spreadsheet for accuracy. Use this as a starting point for your own strategic work.

Leverage AI directly in Excel

The second major integration brings Claude directly into Microsoft Excel. The new feature embeds the AI in a sidebar, allowing you to interact with spreadsheets without leaving the application. This is a significant step for data analysis and financial modeling.

This integration is broadly available to Max, Team, and Enterprise users. It is designed to make complex spreadsheet operations more accessible.

A powerful sidebar for your data

From the Excel sidebar, Claude can read, analyze, and modify your workbooks. It can even create new spreadsheets from scratch based on a prompt. The tool is built with business use cases in mind, offering transparency and traceability for all its actions.

When the AI makes a change, it tracks and explains it. This allows you to navigate directly to referenced cells to see what was done. This feature is crucial for maintaining accuracy and control over your financial or operational data. It also preserves existing structures and formula dependencies to prevent errors.

Key features for data analysis in Excel

The Excel integration comes with support for advanced features that business users rely on every day. These capabilities help you work faster and uncover more insights from your data.

• Advanced Operations: Built-in support for creating pivot tables and charts.
• File Handling: You can upload files directly for the AI to analyze and incorporate.
• Formula Assistance: Claude can debug and fix incorrect cell formulas, populate templates with new data, and build new spreadsheet models from a prompt.

Why Anthropic Opus 4.5 matters for your business

The release of Anthropic Opus 4.5 is viewed by industry observers as a meaningful step forward in AI productivity. Its features are not just technical achievements; they are practical tools designed to solve common business problems.

The focus on direct integration with tools like Chrome and Excel positions this model as a strong contender in the AI platform race against competitors from Google and OpenAI. As noted in the original article from TechCrunch AI, this move targets everyday office and web tasks.

A competitive edge in AI

Early benchmarks show that Anthropic Opus 4.5 delivers top-tier performance at a lower cost than previous models. This efficiency makes powerful AI more accessible for businesses of all sizes. The model is already being integrated into major platforms like GitHub Copilot and Amazon Bedrock, signaling rapid adoption.

This widespread validation reinforces its position as a reliable and powerful tool. For your business, this means you are adopting a technology that is tested, supported, and built for professional environments.

By automating research and data analysis, your team can focus on creating more effective campaigns that drive traffic to your digital properties. A well-structured website is essential to convert that traffic into customers, which is why a professional site is the foundation of any digital strategy. Explore how websites built to rank and convert can maximize the impact of your marketing efforts.

Next steps: Putting Opus 4.5 to work

Adopting a new tool like Anthropic Opus 4.5 successfully requires a clear plan. Start small and identify the workflows where automation can provide the most immediate value.

Do not try to automate everything at once. Instead, pick one or two repetitive tasks and use them as a pilot project to learn how the AI works and how your team can best use it.

Your implementation checklist

Use this list to guide your initial adoption of Opus 4.5 and its new integrations.

1. Identify one repetitive task. Choose a workflow that is time-consuming but follows a predictable pattern. Good candidates include compiling weekly reports, researching market trends, or populating sales templates.
2. Assign a pilot user or team. Have one or two people lead the test. Let them experiment with the Chrome and Excel integrations to understand their capabilities and limitations.
3. Document the process and results. Track the time saved and the accuracy of the AI's output. This data will help you make the business case for wider adoption.
4. Expand to other workflows. Once you have a successful pilot, identify other areas of the business where automation could improve efficiency. Scale your use of the tool incrementally based on proven results.