SAN FRANCISCO, 18 February 2026 – Anthropic has officially released Claude Sonnet 4.6, marking a significant leap in the “computer use” capabilities of its AI suite. The update, which became the new default for both Free and Pro users yesterday, arrives alongside news of a massive US$30 billion Series G funding round that has propelled the company’s valuation to US$380 billion.
Claude Sonnet 4.6: The New Standard
Released on 17 February 2026, Claude Sonnet 4.6 is being described by Anthropic as a “full upgrade” across all core competencies. The model has demonstrated a particular aptitude for navigating complex digital environments, with the ability to fill out multi-step web forms and manage several browser tabs simultaneously to complete research tasks.
Key improvements in the 4.6 iteration include:
- Advanced Computer Use: Enhanced ability to interact with software interfaces like a human user.
- Agentic Planning: Superior performance in long-horizon tasks and complex project management.
- Security Research: Recent testing revealed the model identified over 500 high-severity security flaws in open-source libraries with minimal prompting.
- Coding and Design: Significant gains in generating client-ready code and sophisticated design layouts.
The Claude Model Family (2025-2026)
Anthropic maintains a tiered approach to its model releases, categorising them by intelligence and speed. The following table outlines the current state of the Claude 4 series as of February 2026.
| Model Variant | Latest Version | Release Date | Primary Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Opus | 4.6 | February 2026 | Deep research, financial analysis, and complex professional workflows. |
| Claude Sonnet | 4.6 | 17 February 2026 | Default balanced model for coding, design, and general productivity. |
| Claude Haiku | 4.0* | May 2025 | Near-instant responses for high-volume, simple tasks. |
*Note: While Opus and Sonnet have moved to 4.6, Haiku remains on the initial Claude 4 architecture.
Market Impact and Industry Reception
The rapid pace of Anthropic’s releases has sent ripples through the Australian and global tech sectors. Following the release of Sonnet 4.6 and the earlier Opus 4.6, shares in traditional software firms—particularly those in the legal and financial research sectors—have seen increased volatility. Analysts suggest that Claude’s new “Cowork” legal plugins and financial research capabilities are challenging established enterprise software providers.
Public sentiment remains high, with many users on platforms like Reddit preferring Claude over competitors for its “perceptive” conversational tone. Professional users have noted that Claude often produces output requiring only 10–15% revision, compared to higher rates for other leading LLMs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Claude Sonnet and Claude Opus?
Claude Sonnet is designed to be the best combination of speed and intelligence, making it the ideal default for most users. Claude Opus is the most powerful model in the family, specifically tuned for high-level reasoning, complex coding, and professional-grade data analysis.
Is Claude Sonnet 4.6 free to use?
Yes, as of 17 February 2026, Claude Sonnet 4.6 is the default model for the free tier on Claude.ai, though it remains subject to daily usage limits. Pro subscribers receive significantly higher limits and priority access.
Can Claude 4.6 actually control my computer?
Through the “computer use” API and specific integrations, Claude 4.6 can move a cursor, click buttons, and type text to perform tasks across different applications. This feature is currently geared toward developers and enterprise users building autonomous agents.
How much did Anthropic raise in its latest funding round?
Anthropic recently announced a US$30 billion Series G funding round, bringing its post-money valuation to US$380 billion, cementing its position as one of the most valuable private AI companies in the world.