Anthropic has recently launched Claude Science, a new AI-powered research workbench designed specifically for scientists. While still undergoing beta testing, it is already attracting attentions from leading research institutions and could become a valuable tool for researchers.

By bringing together researchers’ own data, scientific literature, databases, analysis tools and computing resources in a single environment, Claude Science aims to help researchers spend less time on routine tasks and more time on discovery. It acts as a project manager rather than just a simple chatbot. Companies including the Allen Institute, Manifold Bio and the UCSF Brain Tumor Center have trialled this software and already reported significant productivity gains.

What can Claude Science help researchers with:

Analysing literature: This platform can collate and analyse scientific literature to aid in manuscript writing and even includes a reviewer agent that checks citations, calculations and figures for potential errors. As with any AI model, researchers should continue to validate outputs themselves.

Generating Figures: This platform can create and visualise 3D protein structures, chemical drawings, genome browsers tracks and more. Researchers can even edit figures using natural-language instructions and the underlying code provided is automatically updated.

Datasets: Claude Science incorporates over 60 scientific databases and software tools and comes pre-configured for areas including genomics, proteomics, structural biology, single-cell research and chemistry; databases include access to Basecamp Research’s EDEN dataset, one of the world’s largest biological datasets sequencing millions of microbial species.

Importantly, Claude Science runs using a lab’s own computing infrastructure, helping researchers maintain control of their data without it leaving their institution. Unlike other Large Language Models, Anthropic states that customer data is not used to train models by default under commercial agreements.

The platform is currently available through paid Claude subscriptions with prices ranging:

• Pro: $20/mo. Access to all features at baseline level
• Max:$100/mo. Access to a higher usage than Pro, with higher output limits, advanced features and priority responses at high-traffic times
• Team: $25/mo. Access for teams of 5 to 150 to all basic features with more usage than Pro. Includes admin enablement
• Enterprise: $20/mo: Access with seat price plus usage at API rates. Includes admin enablement

Anthropic is offering research compute credits of up to $30,000 through its AI for Science programme to support scientific projects and gather feedback as the platform develops further. While currently centred on life sciences research, the platform has planned to expand into wider fields in the future.

Please see their website for more information: https://www.anthropic.com/news/claude-science-ai-workbench