@MushtaqBilalPhD: Claude Cowork is set to revolu...

Claude Cowork is set to revolutionize intellectual and academic work.

But most academics don't know how to use it.

Here's how to set up Claude Cowork as your research assistant:

(This workflow will take you only 15 min.)

1. To use Claude Cowork, you'll need to download Claude desktop app.

Go to claude[.]com/download

and download the Claude desktop app.

You'll also need a paid plan for $20/m or $100/m.

Start with $20/m plan.

2. Once you've installed it, open Claude desktop app.

On the top, you will see three options: Chat, Cowork, Code.

Click on "Cowork."

3. The first thing you need to do is set up your own custom instructions.

Click on "File" in the top-left corner and select "Settings."

In Settings, go to "Cowork."

Click on "Edit" in front of "Global instructions."

Tell Claude the work you do and how it should behave.

4. Run a prompt related to one of your research projects to see if Cowork has understood your instructions.

If you're not satisfied with its response, go back and amend your instructions.

These instructions will be applicable to everything you do in Cowork.

5. As you start using Cowork, it will automatically update its memory based on your chats.

To see its memory, go to "File" in the top-left corner and click on "Settings."

In Settings, click on "Capabilities" and it will show you its memory based on your chats.

6. On your computer, create a folder "Claude Cowork Main Folder."

In this folder, create a text file called "aboutme" in your notepad.

Save the document as an "md" file.

Or you can simply change it extension from .txt to .md

In the file, write about yourself and your work.

7. Create another .md file title "mywritingstyle"

In this file, paste 1,000 words from one of your papers.

8. Create a third file in the same folder titled "Claudebehavior"

In this file, specify exactly how you would like Claude to behave.

For example, you can ask it to always use the web to look up citations if needed.

9. Click on "Work in a folder" under the chat box and select "Claude Cowork Main Folder."

Ask Claude to go through the folder to see what's there.

Note that Claude can edit and delete your files, so do not try this with a folder in which you have important documents.

10. Once Claude has gone through your documents, ask it generate a document on a relevant topic.

Claude will generate a document and place it in the folder.

11. Go back to the folder and you will see the document Claude generated.

You can use this feature to prepare briefs based on your notes and convert your raw notes into presentable documents.

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Claude Cowork has many other great features like tools, connectors, and skills.

I'll be covering them in future threads, so follow me to read about them.