Claude Co-Author

Inspiration

In the recent past, the number of times we've used Claude skills while working on presentations and documents, but end up waiting for a response while twiddling our thumbs and staring at our phones is MASSIVE. We wanted a tool that would actually update documents and slides with us while we work on a different part of the file: boosting efficiency, saving time and adding productivity.

What it does

Claude Co-author (for now) is a Google Doc and Slides plug-in with a ClaudeAPI backend that will work on documents LIVE (as if you were collaborating with another person) with no latency. It can work on the introduction, while you work on the conclusions; it can add figures while you work on small formatting; it's ACTUALLY like working with another person, and not waiting for input every step of the way.

How we built it

We built it using Claude and Google Apps Script: we created an extension that can load directly into your docs or slides app, and

Challenges we ran into

Permissions are definitely an issue; and so is formatting. Once we actually publish this to the extension marketplace, we can figure the first problem out, and for formatting we have added some changes, but these need to be modified a little more before deploying.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

It actually works and solves a problem that we genuinely have while we work!!! I think we will genuinely use this as part of everyday work now.

What we learned

We learned how accessible the Claude API is to use for applications: we learnt how we can solve seemingly simple everyday problems within ~3 hours! Cannot express the excitement we felt when it worked so smoothly. Building with Claude is incredible.

What's next for Claude Co-author

We need to publish to the Google extension marketplace and work a little more on the prompting for the tool: possibly more emphasis on the formatting and aesthetics of documents and slides. We might actually pursue this: the seconds waiting for edits really adds up!

Built With

• claude
• google-apps-script
• html