What Claude offers now
From Anthropic’s announcements:
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Creates and edits real files directly in chats or the desktop app: Excel (.xlsx), Word (.docx), PowerPoint (.pptx), PDFs.
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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).
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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.
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File size limits: up to 30 MB uploads/downloads.
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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:
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File uploads & summarization / extraction: ChatGPT can accept PDFs, presentations, plaintext documents, etc., and then respond to queries about their contents.
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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.
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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.
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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)
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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
.xlsxspreadsheets 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
| Feature | Claude’s new file creation/edit | ChatGPT’s current capacities | Google 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 internally | Less 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 formulas | Unknown 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 text | Gemini likely similar to document export, with less file format variety known |
| File size & limits | Claude: 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 constrained | Not fully disclosed / varies across features / tools |
| Availability / plan restrictions | Preview 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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
