Anthropic Launches Claude Opus 4.1: Enhanced AI for Coding & Reasoning
Anthropic, the AI startup backed by Google, has unveiled Claude Opus 4.1, its latest and most advanced model specifically engineered for software development. This significant upgrade to its flagship Claude Opus 4 model promises enhanced reasoning capabilities, more robust real-world coding performance, and notable improvements across key industry benchmarks. The company has indicated that further advancements to its models are anticipated in the coming weeks, signaling an accelerated pace of innovation.
Currently, Claude Opus 4.1 is accessible to paid subscribers of Claude Code and is also available via Anthropic’s API, Amazon Bedrock, and Google Cloud’s Vertex AI. Despite its enhanced capabilities, the new model retains the same pricing structure as its predecessor, Claude Opus 4. Beyond its core strength in practical coding, Opus 4.1 is designed to excel in complex tasks requiring autonomous, multi-step execution (often referred to as agentic tasks), in-depth research, and detailed data analysis. Its proficiency extends to identifying intricate correlations within codebases and facilitating multi-file code refactoring, tasks that demand meticulous attention to detail.
The performance gains of Claude Opus 4.1 are evident across several benchmarks. Its score on the SWE-bench verified test, a critical measure for coding proficiency, has risen from 72.5 percent to 74.5 percent. Furthermore, the model has demonstrated improved performance in a range of other demanding evaluations, including those for mathematical reasoning, agentic terminal coding (TerminalBench), general purpose question answering and reasoning (GPQA), and visual reasoning (MMMU). Feedback from early users corroborates these improvements, highlighting its effectiveness in real-world development scenarios.
Earlier this year, Anthropic introduced Claude Opus 4, which at the time was positioned as a leading model for complex, long-running coding tasks and agent workflows. The rapid succession of Opus 4.1 underscores Anthropic’s intensified efforts to maintain its competitive edge in the fiercely contested artificial intelligence landscape.
In a move that broadens its reach within the developer community, Claude Opus 4.1 is also integrated into GitHub Copilot Enterprise and Pro+ plans. Developers can access the model within GitHub Copilot Chat across github.com, Visual Studio Code, and GitHub Mobile via the chat model picker. While Claude Opus 4 will remain available for a brief period, GitHub has announced its deprecation within 15 days, urging users to transition to the newer version. This strategic release comes just days before OpenAI is expected to announce GPT-5, a highly anticipated model that will undoubtedly redefine the competitive dynamics among major AI players in the realms of coding and software development. Anthropic’s proactive upgrade with Opus 4.1 positions it squarely in the race for AI supremacy in the developer tools space.