PlayInfoBox

Home /Education /Getting Started with Claude AI

Getting Started with Claude AI

Claude is an AI assistant built for careful, thorough work with documents and writing. Here's how to get started with the basics.

  1. Create an account and log in

    Go to claude.ai on the web or download the app, then sign up with an email address or a Google account and log in.

  2. Start a new conversation and type your question

    Type whatever you need help with into the message box at the bottom of the screen β€” there's no special format required.

  3. Attach a document, image, or PDF for analysis

    Use the attachment icon to upload a file, and Claude can summarize a document, read text out of an image, or answer questions based on what you've shared.

  4. Use Projects to keep related work together

    If you're working on the same topic repeatedly, create a Project to keep related conversations and reference files in one place, so you don't have to re-explain the context every time.

  5. Review and edit results with Artifacts

    Content meant to be edited separately, like an essay, code, or a table, appears in a separate panel called an Artifact next to the chat, so you can request specific changes without regenerating the whole thing.

  6. Why it's worth using

    Claude is particularly strong at handling long documents in one pass and tends toward a careful, measured response style, which makes it well suited to document summarization, analysis, and detailed writing tasks.

What sets Claude apart from other AI chatbots

Every major AI assistant can hold a conversation, but Claude is particularly known for handling long, complex documents well and for a writing style that tends to be careful and thorough rather than flashy. If your typical use case involves reviewing contracts, summarizing reports, or working through detailed technical writing, that steadiness tends to matter more than raw speed or a playful tone.

Getting more out of Projects and Artifacts

New users often treat Claude like a single ongoing chat, which works fine at first but gets messy once you're juggling several unrelated topics. Projects solve this by giving each topic its own space with its own reference files, so context doesn't bleed between them. Artifacts solve a related problem: instead of re-reading an entire regenerated document to find what changed, you can see and edit just the specific piece you asked to update.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Claude free to use?

Claude offers a free tier with usage limits, alongside paid plans that raise those limits and unlock additional features. The free tier is generally enough to try out the basics described here.

What kinds of files can I upload to Claude?

Common formats like PDFs, Word documents, plain text files, spreadsheets, and images are generally supported, letting Claude read, summarize, or analyze the content you share.