Showing posts with label file creation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label file creation. Show all posts

12.9.25

Claude’s new file creation tools vs. ChatGPT and Gemini: who’s ahead on real productivity


What Claude offers now

From Anthropic’s announcements:

  • Creates and edits real files directly in chats or the desktop app: Excel (.xlsx), Word (.docx), PowerPoint (.pptx), PDFs. 

  • Users can upload data or supply shared input, then ask Claude to build files from scratch (e.g. spreadsheets with formulas, documents or slide decks). 

  • The outputs are downloadable, usable “ready-to-use” artifacts. Claude can also convert document formats (e.g. PDF→slides) and do statistical/analysis tasks within spreadsheets.

  • File size limits: up to 30 MB uploads/downloads. 

  • The feature is currently a preview for certain paid plans (Max, Team, Enterprise), with Pro plans getting access “soon.” 


What ChatGPT currently supports (vs. Claude)

Based on public info:

  • File uploads & summarization / extraction: ChatGPT can accept PDFs, presentations, plaintext documents, etc., and then respond to queries about their contents. 

  • Data analysis / code execution environment (“Code Interpreter” / “Advanced Data Analysis”): for spreadsheets or CSVs, you can upload, have it run code, do charts/visualizations, clean data, etc. 

  • File editing or direct file creation: ChatGPT so far does not create or modify Excel/Word/PPTX/PDF files as downloadable artifacts via a “create new file + edit” flow in chat (at least very broadly marketed). There are plugins and workflows, but not a core feature announced the way Claude’s was.

  • Canvas interface: ChatGPT introduced “Canvas,” allowing inline editing of texts or code alongside chat—helpful for refining, rewriting, collaborating. But this is about editing text/code drafts in the interface, not necessarily generating formal document files with formatting and exporting to PPTX, XLSX, etc. 


What we know less about Gemini (Google)

  • Public info is less detailed for Gemini’s ability to generate downloadable files like PowerPoints, spreadsheets with formulas, etc. Gemini can export Deep Research reports as Google Docs, which implies some document generation + formatting functionality. But whether it handles real .xlsx spreadsheets or retains formula logic is less clear. (This comes from secondary sources referencing export of reports as Google Docs.) 

  • Gemini does well with research-style reports, text generation, multimedia input/output; but direct file editing workflows (upload file, edit content, download in formatted artifact) are not obviously at parity with Claude’s newly announced capability as of now (publicly).


Side-by-side strengths & gaps

FeatureClaude’s new file creation/editChatGPT’s current capacitiesGoogle Gemini (publicly known)
Create + download Word / PPTX / Excel / PDF from scratch via chat✅ Yes (Claude)❓ Mostly no / limited; chat drafts or upload → extract, but not full artifact creation with formatting & formulas✅ Some doc export (e.g. Google Doc), but file formats & formula support unclear
Edit existing files (spreadsheets, slide decks, PDFs) by specifying edits✅ Yes (Claude can modify uploaded file)Partial: you can ask ChatGPT to suggest edits, maybe produce updated content; but usually via text, not editing the actual file artifact internallyLess clear publicly
Formulas / spreadsheet logic, charts, data analysis within file✅ Claude supports formulas, chart generation in Excel sheets etc. ✅ ChatGPT’s Advanced Data Analysis / Code Interpreter can run code, generate charts etc., but output often image or code rather than in Excel with working formulasUnknown detail for Gemini
Format preservation / bulk edits (e.g. replace terms, style, layout)Claude claims it preserves formatting and supports direct editing without opening the file manually. ChatGPT can manipulate content, but not always preserve all formatting when exporting to external files; often conversion‐based or re‐rendered textGemini likely similar to document export, with less file format variety known
File size & limitsClaude: upload/download up to ~30 MB.ChatGPT file uploads also have size limits (for large files or large images), but the limit & support for editing artifacts with formulas or presentation layouts is more constrainedNot fully disclosed / varies across features / tools
Availability / plan restrictionsPreview for paid tiers in Claude; not yet general free access. Many advanced features gated to Plus / Pro / Teams; “Canvas” is in beta etc. Gemini similarly has tiered and regionized feature access; some users may have access, but not universally confirmed for all features

Implications & what this means

  • Claude’s added file creation/edit increases its utility for document + presentation work flows, especially for business / enterprise use, where formatted deliverables (slides, reports, spreadsheets) are key.

  • If ChatGPT (or Gemini) wants to match this, they'd need to support not just text/coding, but full artifact generation + editing with retention of formula logic/formatting + download/export in common office file formats.

  • Users whose workflows involve formatting, layout, bulk edits, or converting between formats will benefit more from Claude’s new feature—less manual reformatting and fewer copy-paste hacks.

  • For many use cases, existing tools (ChatGPT + Code Interpreter) suffice, especially when output is data or charts. But for file artifacts that are meant to be “finished” or shared, Claude’s offering tightens the gap.

Claude’s Leap: From Chat to File Factory

 Anthropic just upgraded Claude to be more than a conversational assistant. A fresh feature preview lets users create and edit real files—Excel sheets, Word docs, PowerPoint decks, and PDFs—directly through Claude.ai and the desktop app. Rather than simply getting text output, you can describe what you need, upload data, and receive usable files already formatted and ready to share or export. 


What’s New

  • File types supported: .xlsx, .docx, .pptx, .pdf—spreadsheet, word-processed, slide, and presentation formats. 

  • Complex workflows enabled: You can ask Claude to build financial models with formulas and multiple sheets, convert PDFs into slides, clean raw data, run statistical analyses, produce charts, or stitch together reports—all via natural instructions. 

  • Sandboxed computing: Claude now operates in a restricted internal computing environment. It can run code (e.g. Python), load libraries, and generate artifacts without exposing your local machine. 


Availability & Plans

  • Already available now for those on Max, Team, and Enterprise plans. 

  • Pro users will get access soon

  • It’s currently a feature preview—opt-in required per user via the Claude settings (“Upgraded file creation and analysis”) and may still be tweaked. 


Use Cases: What You Can Do

  • Transform raw data into polished reports (CSV → charts → formatted Word or PDF). 

  • Build project trackers, scenario models, dashboards in Excel with working formulas. 

  • Convert existing documents from one format to another: e.g., meeting notes → slide decks; PDF reports → editable docs. 


Risks & Safeguards

  • Security: Because Claude gets limited internet access in order to import packages or execute code, there is risk of malicious content or prompt injection. Users are encouraged to monitor outputs and disable the feature if suspicious behavior arises.

  • Sandbox isolation: Enterprise settings allow admins to enable or disable file creation organization-wide. Team users must opt in; individuals can toggle the feature. 


Why It Matters

This move shifts Claude (and similar models) further into hands-on productivity automation. Rather than merely advising, Claude can now execute parts of what used to require manual effort: formatting, data manipulation, cross-format conversion. That reduces friction for users who want to go from idea → usable artifact in fewer steps. It’s also a more natural way to blend AI into workflows: you stay in chat, give instructions, and get back files—not just text dumps you have to reformat. It’s a signal of what’s next: smarter agents embedded in the tools people use daily.

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What Claude offers now From Anthropic’s announcements: Creates and edits real files directly in chats or the desktop app: Excel (.xlsx)...