Anthropic PBC today updated its Claude chatbot with a new tool, Research, that can generate highly detailed answers to user questions.

The feature is rolling out alongside a new integration with Google Workspace. The connector will allow Claude to incorporate information from Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Docs into prompt responses.

When the new Research tool is enabled, Claude runs not one but multiple searches to find information requested by workers. It can sift through both internal data such as business documents and the public web. After assembling the retrieved information into a prompt response, Research adds citations to help users verify the output. 

“Claude operates agentically, conducting multiple searches that build on each other while determining exactly what to investigate next,” Anthropic staffers detailed in a blog post today. “It explores different angles of your question automatically and works through open questions systematically.”

One of the data sources the new Research tool can draw on is the Google Workspace integration that Anthropic debuted as well. The connector allows Claude to access data such as Google Calendar entries and action items in email threads. Users can also give the chatbot permission to use information in Google Docs.

For customers of the top-end Claude Enterprise plan, Anthropic offers a feature dubbed cataloging that makes the Google Workspace integration more useful. The capability enables Claude to more effectively retrieve information that is scattered across multiple files or embedded in lengthy documents. Additionally, it removes the need for uses to point out the specific documents from which they wish to extract the information.

Under the hood, the cataloging feature works by creating an index of the files in a company’s Google Workspace environment. An index is a collection of shortcuts designed to make important information easier to find.

On launch, Research is available in the United States, Japan and Brazil to users of Claude’s Enterprise, Team and Max plans. Over the next few weeks, Anthropic plans to release updates that will “expand the range of content sources available and the ability for Claude to do research in more depth.” That suggests the company may add integrations for other software-as-a-service products besides Google Workspace.

Anthropic’s Research tool is rolling out two months after OpenAI introduced a similar feature for ChatGPT. Dubbed deep research, the feature can aggregate data from hundreds of sources into detailed reports. It’s powered by o3, OpenAI’s most advanced reasoning model.

The ChatGPT developer reportedly plans to launch a more advanced research tool down the line. Last month, OpenAI reportedly told investors that the offering will be capable of carrying out “Ph.D.-level research.” It’s believed the company also plans to launch other specialized AI tools optimized for tasks such as software development. 

Image: Anthropic