Anthropic Builds Economic Index Into Claude: Find Out Where AI Is Already Automating Tasks

On July 22, 2026, Anthropic launched an Anthropic Economic Index connector for Claude. The tool lets any user explore data on how AI is actually used in the economy, right inside a conversation with the assistant. Setup takes about a minute and requires no installation.

What the Economic Index connector does

The Anthropic Economic Index connector gives Claude direct access to the Index's datasets, so answers to questions about AI use rest on real numbers rather than the model's general reasoning. Anthropic created the Economic Index to measure how AI is used in the economy; until now, its data was read mainly by researchers, journalists and policymakers.

Previously, working with the Index meant downloading the datasets and making sense of them yourself. The connector removes that barrier: Claude finds the relevant figures in the Index data on its own and explains them in plain language.

• Launch date: July 22, 2026
• Works in claude.ai with any Claude model; nothing to install
• Setup takes about a minute through the connectors menu
• The full Index datasets remain free on Anthropic's website
• The Index reflects Claude usage patterns, not the labor market as a whole

What questions you can ask Claude

You can question Claude about the Index the way you would a colleague: start broad and gradually drill into the details. Anthropic offers sample queries that the connector answers with Index data:

• "Which occupations use AI the most?"
• "How do people in Colorado most often use Claude?"
• "What tasks do teachers use Claude for?"
• "What are people automating with AI, and how has that changed over the past year?"

Anthropic advises asking Claude to show the underlying data after any answer. That way you can see the source of each figure, not just the final summary.

Why the Index data has limits

The Index reflects usage patterns of Claude specifically, not the labor market as a whole. Anthropic states this warning outright. As Claude works through a question, it points the user to the source data and its limitations.

"The Index reflects Claude usage patterns, not the labor market as a whole,"

Anthropic's blog says.

To enable the connector, open the connectors menu in claude.ai, find Anthropic Economic Index in the catalog and activate it. After that, it works in any conversation with any Claude model, and no separate installation is required.

What this means

Anthropic is turning an economic study from a static report into an interactive tool. Any curious user, not just an analyst with access to the raw datasets, can now find out how AI is changing a particular profession or region.

Frequently asked questions

How much does access to the Anthropic Economic Index cost?

Access is free: the connector is enabled directly in claude.ai, and the full Index datasets are freely available on Anthropic's website.

How do I enable the connector in Claude?

Open the connectors menu in claude.ai, find Anthropic Economic Index in the catalog and turn it on. There is nothing to install; it works immediately in any chat with any Claude model.

Does the Index reflect the entire labor market?

No. Anthropic stresses that the Index shows Claude usage patterns, not the labor market as a whole, so its findings should be read with that caveat in mind.