The Claude Hype: We'll Explain It All
There are times in the tech world when a name seems to be on everyone’s lips. Right now, that name is Claude, Anthropic’s AI.
Should we consider it the new undisputed champion of generative artificial intelligence? Perhaps. Or perhaps not. Because in this field, the landscape changes rapidly: yesterday, everyone was talking about Gemini; before that, it was ChatGPT; tomorrow, another player might take center stage.
So, rather than simply succumbing to the hype of the moment, let’s take a step back. What exactly is Claude offering? In what forms is it available? What do terms like “Projects,” “Skills,” and “agent-based AI” actually mean? And above all: what should we make of this from the perspective of business, security, governance, and strategy?
That’s exactly where the real issue begins.
Claude isn't "just a chatbot"
Claude is a conversational AI developed by Anthropic. But to reduce it to a simple chat interface would be to miss the point entirely.
Today, Claude is available in several forms. It can be accessed via the web, as a desktop app for Mac and Windows, and as a mobile app for iOS and Android. Anthropic also offers Claude in Chrome, a browser extension that can read, click, and browse the web alongside you. In addition, there are environments geared toward more advanced use cases, such as Claude Code for developers, or Claude Cowork, designed for knowledge-based tasks.
In other words, Claude is no longer just a tool you interact with. It is increasingly becoming a working layer capable of understanding context, operating in various environments, manipulating data sources, executing tasks, and sometimes even producing a final output.
That’s what’s fueling the current hype: the sense that we’re moving from AI that responds to AI that engages.
Claude's Different Formats: Understanding Their Uses
To put it simply, there are several entry points.
- The first, and most obvious, is using Claude in a web browser. This is the simplest and most universal way to use it—for communication, writing, analysis, brainstorming, and summarizing.
- The second is Claude Desktop. Here, the experience feels more like a desktop environment. Claude can be used for more advanced tasks, especially when connected to tools or context sources.
- The third is Claude Mobile, which is useful for quick tasks on the go, serving as a personal or professional assistant.
- The fourth, most recent, and most transformative is Claude in Chrome. The extension can read a page, click links, fill out fields, manage multiple tabs, record workflows, and even schedule certain recurring tasks. We’ve already moved beyond simple conversation; we’re entering a realm of assisted action within the browser.
Finally, there are more specialized versions:
- Claude Code, specializing in software development;
- Claude Cowork, designed for non-technical knowledge work, with a clear promise: start with a goal and let the agent handle part of the process.
The key question, then, is not simply “Is Claude any good?”, but rather: in what context, for what type of work, and with what level of autonomy, control, and integration?
Projects, styles, skills: what exactly are we talking about?
That’s often where the confusion begins.
- Projects
Projects are dedicated workspaces. Each project has its own conversation history, knowledge base, and instructions. You can upload documents, text, code, and files, and establish a lasting context around a topic, a client, a business function, or a task. On paid plans, projects can leverage RAG mechanisms to expand their content processing capabilities.
In other words: a Project allows you to move beyond isolated chat and enter into a context-aware working memory framework.
- Styles
Anthropic also distinguishes between styles, which are used to customize the way Claude expresses itself: more concise, more formal, more directive, more educational, and so on. Styles do not replace the substance of the content; they primarily determine the form of the response.
- Skills
The term “skills” is often used loosely in the AI ecosystem. At Anthropic, we like to be precise: Skills are primarily documented in Claude Code and within the agent/developer ecosystem. They are extensions of capabilities, based on structured instructions, that Claude can use when relevant or that can be explicitly invoked. In short: this isn’t just a marketing gimmick; it’s a way to equip Claude for reusable and specialized tasks.
The correct reading is therefore as follows:
- Project = the work context,
- Style = the way one responds,
- Skill = a structured, reusable capability, especially in advanced environments
“Agentic”: a buzzword, but a serious concept
The term "agentics" is everywhere. It deserves to be made clear.
Anthropic distinguishes between two categories:
- workflows, where the steps are planned in advance;
- agents, where the model itself dynamically decides how to use its tools and sequence its actions to achieve a goal.
This is a crucial distinction.
In a workflow, you define the path.
In an agent, you mainly specify the destination.
But Anthropic adds an important caveat: the more agentic a system is, the more important it is to maintain simplicity, ensure transparency in the steps involved, and carefully design the interface between the agent and the tools. In other words, autonomy never replaces the need for a methodical approach.
That’s why AI agents are so fascinating: they promise a huge boost in productivity. And that’s also why they’re cause for concern: they shift the focus from “what can the model do?” to “what can it do in my real-world environment?”
Safety: No blind spots, no marketing gimmick
We need to be objective about this.
On the one hand, Anthropic highlights reassuring points for organizations. Regarding its commercial offerings and API, the company states that, by default, customer inputs and outputs are not used to train the models. It also specifies that, within the context of Claude for Work, the customer acts as the data controller and Anthropic acts as the data processor to provide the service.
Anthropic has also launched a Trust Center featuring compliance documents, including references to SOC 2 Type II reports, CSA STAR Level 2, and ISO 27001 certification.
On the other hand, however, we must not be naive.
When Claude operates within a browser, using connectors or external tools, new risks arise: prompt injection, unintended actions, exposure of data visible on the screen, propagation of errors, and even interaction with third-party services that are not sufficiently controlled. Anthropic says it itself: for Claude in Chrome, filters do not constitute a security boundary, and the use of agentic capabilities in the browser calls for genuine caution.
The same logic applies to remote connectors: Anthropic reminds users that these connectors can connect Claude to arbitrary services not verified by Anthropic, and therefore only trusted connectors should be enabled, with clear governance over the permissions granted.
The correct conclusion is therefore neither “Claude is dangerous” nor “Claude is safe.”
The correct conclusion is: Claude can be powerful in a well-defined framework—and problematic in an ambiguous one.
The real issue isn't choosing "the best model"
At Darest IT&AI, we are deeply committed to a simple idea: technology, no matter how powerful or disruptive it may be, is worthless unless it is tailored to the unique context of each organization.
That, in our view, is where the crux of the matter lies.
The market loves rankings, benchmarks, and instant comparisons. They have their uses. But a company doesn’t buy its way to the top. It builds a path forward.
Today, Claude seems to be a step ahead in certain areas. Yesterday, the focus had shifted to Gemini. The day before yesterday, all eyes were on ChatGPT. And tomorrow? No one knows for sure.
So the real challenge isn't choosing a winner of the month.
The real challenge is to make an informed choice that aligns with the business, the existing application portfolio, security requirements, internal maturity, priority use cases, and the company’s long-term strategy.
- AI that isn't culturally adapted creates dependency.
- AI without governance creates risk.
- AI without change management leads to resistance.
- AI without a strategic direction creates a lot of noise, but rarely adds value.
In conclusion
The hype surrounding Claude isn’t just empty talk. It’s based on real progress: a variety of formats, contextualization through Projects, reusable capabilities in advanced environments, an increasingly concrete agent-based approach, and a more structured security framework than many other players.
But fascination with technology should never replace sound judgment.
Because, when it comes down to it, the question isn’t just:
“Is Claude impressive?”
The real question is:
“How can an organization transform this type of technology into sustainable value that is under its control and aligned with its own objectives?”
That’s where the real work begins—not the hype.
Are you wondering how Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or other AI tools might fit into your business?
The right choice isn't the one that's currently trending, but the one that aligns with your strategy, your security needs, your business operations, and your internal readiness.