Anthropic releases Claude Sonnet 4.6, the new default for free and pro

Anthropic on Tuesday released Claude Sonnet 4.6, its second major AI model to be released in less than two weeks.

The startup said Claude Sonnet 4.6 is better at using computers, coding, designing, completing knowledge work tasks, and handling large amounts of data.

For Anthropic’s free users and paid Pro users, the model will now serve as the default in the Claude chatbot and Claude Cowork productivity tool.

Anthropic is in the throes of fierce competition with rivals like OpenAI and GoogleThe release of Claude Sonnet 4.6 serves as the latest example of the extremely high pace of development required to keep pace with the AI ​​industry.

Just 12 days ago Anthropic released another model, the Claude Opus 4.6.

“Performance that previously required achieving an Opus-class model (including real-world, economically valuable office tasks) is now available with Sonnet 4.6,” Anthropic said in a blog post on Tuesday.

Anthropic’s latest developments have also accelerated the massive sales in software stocks in recent months. Investors are increasingly worried about the potential for AI to disrupt these businesses, and the iShares Expanded Technology-Software Sector ETF (IGV) is down more than 20% year to date.

Claude Sonnet 4.6 likely won’t alleviate these concerns, as Anthropic says the model will bring “much improved coding capabilities” to more users. Anthropic said the model is more consistent with coding and is better at following coding instructions.

Anthropic was founded in 2021 by a group of former OpenAI researchers and executives and is best known for developing a family of AI models called Claude.

The company gives new numbers to models as generations pass, but the largest model in the family is usually called Opus, the medium-sized model is called Sonnet, and the smallest model is called Haiku.

Anthropic said in a statement on Thursday. $30 billion financing round With a valuation of $380 billion, it’s more than double its valuation in September.

OpenAI is also involved in fundraising talks with investors for a round that could approach around $100 billion, CNBC previously reported.

WRISTWATCH: The once quiet rivalry between OpenAI and Anthropic is heating up