Screenshots leaked on X by AI leaker CHOI reveal exciting new features coming to the Claude mobile app: “extended thinking” and a web search tool. While details on functionality and release dates remain scarce, the “extended thinking” feature appears to be exclusive to Pro users.
Claude, often overshadowed by AI giants like ChatGPT, Gemini, and DeepSeek, is actively keeping pace with the latest advancements in Large Language Models (LLMs). The “extended thinking” feature, indicated by a clock icon, suggests an enhanced reasoning capability, allowing Claude more processing time to formulate responses and potentially reveal its thought process.
This mirrors the trend of advanced reasoning features in other LLMs. OpenAI’s o1 and o1-mini models, for instance, dedicate more time to processing and incorporate reasoning into their outputs. DeepSeek R1’s chain-of-thought feature provides a step-by-step breakdown of the model’s reasoning, separate from the final answer. Similarly, Gemini’s Flash Thinking model offers a detailed view into its “thinking process.”
A key differentiator among these features is the level of transparency regarding the thought process. OpenAI, for example, keeps the o1 model’s chain of thought hidden, using it for internal monitoring. The unfiltered “thoughts” of an LLM remain largely unknown, and OpenAI understandably avoids exposing them to users.
This implies that the chain-of-thought explanations displayed by DeepSeek R1 and Gemini Flash Thinking are likely curated to prevent unusual or unexpected outputs. While Claude’s approach to “extended thinking” remains unclear, the ultimate goal likely aligns with its competitors: to provide more thoughtful and reasoned responses to complex queries.
The second screenshot showcases a web search beta, addressing a long-standing request from Claude users. Previously designed as a self-contained system, Claude’s adoption of web browsing capabilities reflects the industry’s shift towards incorporating real-time information access. This move is likely essential for Claude to maintain its competitive edge.
While access and availability details remain unknown, these new features hold significant promise for enhancing Claude’s capabilities. Hopefully, users will soon have the opportunity to explore and experience these additions firsthand.
