Most of us use AI the same way: type a question, read the answer, close the tab.
I did too. Then I asked Claude a simple question:
"If you could tell the world about your hidden features, what would you say?"
The answer surprised me. Claude can do a lot more than chat. It can make finished files, work with your apps, use a browser, and even run tasks while you're away.
Here are the 7 features most people never use, with a prompt you can copy for each one.
Quick note: features depend on your plan and which app you use (web, desktop, or mobile), so check what's available on your account.
1. 📊 It makes finished things, not just answers
Instead of giving you text to copy into PowerPoint, Claude can build the whole thing.
- Slide decks you can present
- Docs, spreadsheets, and dashboards
- Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and PDF files
- Shareable links, ready to send
Try asking:
"Turn these meeting notes into a 6-slide deck for my manager."
My take: this is the biggest time-saver. Paste your rough notes and say exactly what you want out: a deck, a sheet, or a one-page summary.
2. 🗂️ It can tidy up your computer
With the Claude desktop app, you can give Claude access to a folder on your computer. Then it can:
- Rename files in bulk
- Sort them into folders by date or type
- Find, read, and summarise documents
- Work only in the folders you allow
Try asking:
"Rename everything in my Downloads by date and sort it into folders."
Where to find it: this needs the Claude desktop app, and you approve each folder before Claude can touch it.
3. 🔌 It connects to your apps
Claude can link to tools you already use through connectors:
- Gmail, Google Drive, and Calendar
- Notion, Canva, Slack, and more
- It reads, searches, and drafts right inside them
- No copy-pasting between tabs
Try asking:
"Find last week's emails about the launch and list what's still pending."
Where to find it: turn on connectors in Settings.
4. 🌐 It can use a browser for you
With the Claude in Chrome extension, Claude can:
- Open sites, click, and scroll
- Fill forms and compare pages
- Pull information from several sites at once
- Ask you before doing anything sensitive
Try asking:
"Compare the price and specs of this laptop on these three sites."
Where to find it: install the Claude in Chrome extension.
5. ⏰ It can work while you sleep
Claude can run scheduled tasks, so the work is done before you even open your laptop.
- Daily, weekly, or one-time tasks
- Results waiting when you're back
- Great for reports and news digests
Try asking:
"Every Monday at 9am, summarise the week's top AI news for me."
My take: perfect for anything you check regularly, like industry news, job postings, or a weekly summary of your own notes.
6. 🧠 It can remember you
Claude's memory keeps useful context between chats:
- Your role, goals, and preferences
- How you like answers formatted
- Context from past conversations
- You can view, edit, or turn it off anytime
Try asking:
"Remember that I prefer short answers with examples."
7. 🔎 It researches and crunches numbers
Claude can work like a research assistant and a data analyst:
- Search the web and cite its sources
- Read long PDFs and reports
- Analyse CSV and Excel files
- Turn data into charts
Try asking:
"Here's my sales CSV. What caused the drop in March? Show me a chart."
My take: always ask for sources. It makes the answer easy to check.
How to get Claude's best work
The biggest lesson from all of this: the better you brief it, the better it works. Treat it like a smart new teammate:
- Give context: who it's for and why
- Name the output: a deck, a sheet, an email, or a chart
- Show an example of what good looks like
- Ask it to check its own work and sources
Final thought
Most people are using a small part of what these tools can do. You don't need to learn all seven features today. Pick one, try the prompt, and see how much time it saves you.
Which one will you try first? Tell me in the comments 👇
I write about how tech actually works at Compiled Thoughts on Substack. If this was useful, follow me here or subscribe there for more breakdowns like this.
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