Anthropic announced on August 25, 2026, that it is merging the memory systems used by Claude’s chat and Cowork products, allowing the AI to retain information across both experiences without users needing to re-enter context each time.
Previously, details shared with Claude during chat sessions — such as project specifics, preferences, or background information — were not accessible when users switched to Cowork, forcing them to repeat themselves. The update eliminates that disconnect, making Claude function as a single continuous assistant across both products.
Anthropic offered a practical example: if a user has previously discussed a conference with Claude in chat, Cowork will already know details like headcount, location, and speakers when it comes time to draft an agenda — without requiring the user to re-input that information.
The update also changes when memories are created. Claude will now add topics to its memory in real time during a conversation, rather than summarizing at the end of a chat session. This means information is available across both products more quickly, even while a conversation is still ongoing.
Anthropic is also giving users visibility into what Claude has stored, with the ability to read, edit, or delete any saved information.
On privacy, the company says Claude will not store sensitive personal information — including health data, race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, political views, and gender identity — by default. Users can opt in to saving sensitive topics via a toggle, and the app will notify them when such information is saved. Certain data, including government-issued ID numbers, Social Security numbers, criminal history, and immigration status, will never be stored.
The unified memory feature is enabled by default for Free, Pro, and Max plan subscribers across web, desktop, and mobile. iOS and Android users will need to update to the latest version of the app to access it.
Source: TechCrunch