Advanced Features: Extended Thinking, Computer Use, and More

All models (some features model specific)2 min read

Extended thinking accuracy improvement

🧠
~50%

Standard

Without thinking

🚀
~90%+

Extended

With thinking

Step 1: Set budget_tokens

Define the maximum thinking budget (minimum 1,024 tokens)

Step 2: Claude reasons internally

Plans, considers alternatives, checks for errors in a scratchpad

Step 3: Calibrates depth

Adaptive thinking (Opus/Sonnet 4.6) adjusts reasoning to problem complexity

Step 4: Produces final answer

A polished response incorporating insights from the reasoning process

Computer use in practice

Computer use works through a screenshot and action loop. Claude takes a screenshot, decides what to click or type, your environment executes the action, and you send back the new screenshot. This loop continues until the task is complete. It works with any application that has a visual interface, including legacy software, web applications, and desktop programs. Currently billed at standard token rates plus vision costs for the screenshots.
🧮Extended thinking: budget_tokens controls reasoning depth
🎯Adaptive thinking: auto calibrates per request (Opus/Sonnet 4.6)
🖥️Computer use: full GUI control via screenshot and action loop
Fast mode: 6x pricing for faster Opus 4.6 output