Anthropic's Claude Gains Direct Access to Slack and Canva via MCP Extension
Anthropic has integrated its Claude AI assistant directly with popular applications like Slack, Figma, and Canva through the MCP Apps extension. Users can now visually use these applications within the chatbot interface.
AI platforms have taken a significant step towards evolving from individual tools into something akin to operating systems. With its newly announced 'MCP Apps' extension for the Claude assistant, Anthropic now allows users to interact with applications like Slack, Figma, and Canva directly from within the chat interface.
Applications Are Moving into the Chat Window
Although these tools could previously connect to Claude, users only received text-based responses. The new integration enables the interactive interfaces of applications to open within the chat window. This allows for real-time editing of a Canva presentation, formatting and previewing a Slack message, or creating interactive charts with Hex and Amplitude.
According to Anthropic's announcement, tools like Asana, Figma, Slack, Canva, Clay, and Box are currently ready for use. It was stated that Salesforce's Data 360, Agentforce, and Customer 360 applications will be added soon. This development shows that AI assistants are evolving towards an 'everything app' concept, similar to 'mini' applications on Telegram and Discord, which consolidate many functions within a single platform.
The Open Standard MCP Forms the Foundation of the Ecosystem
Behind this integration lies the open-source Model Context Protocol (MCP). This extension, called 'MCP Apps,' allows any MCP server to offer interactive interfaces not only in Claude but also in other AI products that support the protocol. This means similar application experiences could soon come to other AI tools.
Experts emphasize that, similar to the application ecosystem launched by ChatGPT last year, such open standards are critical to prevent companies from having to develop and maintain countless different connections. This development, which could fundamentally change the user experience of AI assistants, also adds a new dimension to the industry's personalization race. A similar approach can also be seen in education-focused AI projects.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is MCP (Model Context Protocol)?
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open-source protocol that enables AI models to securely and standardly connect to external tools, APIs, and data sources.
Which applications can currently be used within Claude?
Canva, Slack, Figma, Asana, monday.com, Hex, Amplitude, Clay, and Box applications are directly integrated. Salesforce tools will be added in the near future.
Is this feature available to everyone?
Yes, according to the announcement by Anthropic, the MCP Apps extension has been made available to Claude users. Usage requires connecting with the relevant application accounts.
What does this integration mean for data security?
MCP aims for connections to be made securely with authorization and permissions. However, users are advised to observe traditional security measures (strong passwords, two-factor authentication) when granting access permissions to third-party applications.
