The AI That "Does" Rather Than Just Answers
For a long time, Claude was used as a glorified Q&A tool. One prompt, one response, copy and paste, repeat. That was already useful, but it's far from what the platform can do today.
Claude Desktop, available on macOS and Windows for paid plans, now brings together four distinct features: Cowork, Projects, Artifacts and Connectors. Together, they transform Claude from a conversational assistant into a genuine collaborator that can organize, produce and act.
Here's what each one does, without the unnecessary jargon.
Cowork: Claude Gets to Work
Cowork is Claude's "agent" mode. Instead of answering a question in a single step, Claude can break down a complex task, use tools (connectors, local files, browser) and work through multiple steps without you having to orchestrate everything manually.
In practice: you ask Claude to prepare a summary of your Slack conversations from the week, cross-reference it with a Google Drive document, and draft a structured report. Cowork handles all of that.
A few important things to keep in mind:
- Available on Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise plans.
- On Desktop, Claude can access local files and the browser (capabilities not available on the web alone).
- Starting October 6, 2026, new Cowork tasks on Pro and Max plans will run entirely in the cloud, and the "On your computer only" option will be removed. Tasks already started locally can still be completed.
- If your interface no longer shows separate "Chat" and "Cowork" tabs, that's expected: Anthropic has merged them. Claude now determines on its own whether your request calls for a quick response or a multi-step task.
(Source: support.claude.com: Get started with Claude Cowork)
Projects: Keeping Context From Start to Finish
A Project is a persistent workspace: files, instructions, links and memory are all grouped together. You can launch a conversation or a Cowork session directly within that context, and Claude "remembers" what's in the project without you having to re-explain everything each time.
Typical use cases for an SMB:
- One project per client, with their context, documents and tone guidelines.
- An "HR" project with internal policies for generating consistent communications.
- A "competitive intelligence" project that consolidates the sources to monitor.
Worth noting: projects tied to an account are accessible across multiple devices. Those created from a local folder stay on that computer only. And Cowork does not automatically modify the contents of a project: you decide what gets saved there.
(Source: Perplexity web search, Projects in Cowork, support.claude.com)
Artifacts: The Deliverables Claude Produces
An Artifact is what Claude creates: a document, a dashboard, a slide deck, an interactive tool. You can edit it, share it and reuse it, not just read it in the chat window.
Two generations currently coexist:
- Artifacts created before September 16, 2026 are "legacy" type: still usable and shareable, but no new ones of that type can be created.
- Artifacts created in Cowork before August 19, 2026 are "live" artifacts with more limited compatibility depending on the device.
In practice: if you're running an up-to-date version of Claude Desktop, you're working with the latest version of artifacts, and it's seamless. What matters is knowing that what Claude produces can be exported, shared and integrated into your workflows, not just copied into an email.
(Source: Perplexity web search, Artifacts, support.claude.com)
Connectors: Plugging Claude Into Your Tools
Connectors let Claude pull information and take actions within your existing tools: Slack, Google Drive, Linear, and others depending on your setup.
You configure them through Customize > Connectors or Settings > Connectors in the interface.
Two categories:
- Cloud connectors: accessible from the web, mobile and Desktop.
- Local connectors (local MCP servers): exclusive to the Desktop app, more powerful, but require the app to be open and configured.
Interactive connectors can display interfaces directly in the conversation: a Linear task board, a data preview, and so on. For SMBs juggling multiple tools, this is where Cowork starts to feel like a real operational assistant.
(Source: Perplexity web search, Connectors, support.claude.com)
What This Changes for You
These four features are not gimmicks. Together, they shift the dynamic from "Claude responds" to "Claude works." For an SMB, that translates into:
✦ Less copying and pasting between tools. ✦ Context that carries over from one session to the next. ✦ Real deliverables, not just text in a window. ✦ Actions inside your apps without leaving Claude.
The important caveat: all of this requires the latest version of Claude Desktop and a paid plan. If you're still on the free plan, you won't see Cowork or the connectors. This is an investment, not a bonus feature.
Going Further
We explore these capabilities hands-on with our SMB clients: we always start with a real proof of concept before scaling anything up. If you want to see what this would look like in your context, let's talk.
Reach out to the ProspèrIA team: we'll show you what it actually does, in your reality.