Anthropic Expands Claude Code Access to Slack Users
Key Points
- Slack users can tag Claude to invoke Claude Code for programming tasks.
- The system automatically detects coding requests and pulls thread context.
- No additional download is required; the feature works within the existing Claude Slack app.
- Users must have Claude Code set up with authenticated code repositories.
- The launch follows Anthropic’s release of the Claude Opus 4.5 model.
- Anthropic highlights safety measures, noting high refusal rates for malicious code requests.
Anthropic has launched a new feature that lets Slack users invoke Claude Code directly from their chats. By tagging Claude on a coding‑related message, the system automatically detects the task, pulls context from the thread, and routes the request to Claude Code, which can interact with authenticated code repositories. The functionality is available as a research preview within the existing Claude app for Slack, requiring no additional downloads. The rollout follows Anthropic’s recent release of the Claude Opus 4.5 model, which the company touts as a strong performer in coding tasks compared with competing AI systems.
Slack Integration Brings Claude Code Into Everyday Conversations
Anthropic has introduced a new capability that embeds its Claude Code AI directly into Slack workspaces. Users can simply tag Claude in a message that involves a programming question, bug report, or any other coding‑related request. When Claude is mentioned, the system automatically scans the content of the message, determines whether it is a coding task, and then forwards the request to Claude Code. The AI receives the full context of the Slack thread and any linked code repositories that the user has previously authenticated with Claude Code, eliminating the need to manually copy and paste code snippets or documentation.
How the Feature Works
The integration builds on the existing Claude app for Slack, which already provides a conversational chatbot interface. No new software needs to be installed; users who already have the Claude Slack app can start using the coding feature immediately, provided they have set up the web version of Claude Code and linked the relevant repositories. When a user explicitly tells Claude that a message is a coding task, the AI begins analyzing the request, drawing on the repository data to generate solutions, suggest fixes, or answer technical questions.
Timing and Context
This expansion arrives shortly after Anthropic released its Claude Opus 4.5 model. Anthropic claims that Opus 4.5 outperforms competing AI models, including Google Gemini, on coding benchmarks. While the model demonstrates strong technical capabilities, Anthropic continues to emphasize safety and security concerns, noting that early testing showed the model refused a majority of requests to produce malicious code.
Implications for Developers and Teams
By allowing developers to access a powerful coding assistant without leaving their primary communication platform, Anthropic aims to streamline problem‑solving workflows and reduce context‑switching overhead. Teams can discuss issues in Slack, tag Claude, and receive immediate, context‑aware assistance that references the actual codebase. This approach could accelerate debugging, code review, and feature implementation, especially for distributed teams that rely heavily on chat for collaboration.
Availability
The feature is currently offered as a beta research preview. Participants can opt in through the Claude Slack app settings and must have a Claude Code account linked to their preferred repositories. Since the rollout is still experimental, Anthropic may gather user feedback to refine detection accuracy, repository integration, and safety safeguards before a broader release.