Anthropic adds fast mode to Claude Code to deliver faster coding speeds

Claude.ai

• Anthropic's Claude Code gets fast mode, improving developer response times
• Fast mode handles requests 2.5x faster, perfect for urgent coding tasks.
• Claude Opus 4.6 enhances context retention, error detection, and long-form reasoning.

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Anthropic has launched a new fast mode for its Claude Code platform, aimed at significantly improving response times for software developers working on demanding projects. The feature is built on the company’s latest AI model, Claude Opus 4.6, and is designed to deliver quicker outputs without compromising on reasoning quality or accuracy.

According to the company, fast mode can process requests up to 2.5 times faster than the standard version, making it particularly useful for urgent coding tasks, debugging sessions, and large-scale development workflows.

Faster responses for high-intensity development

The new fast mode is currently being rolled out as an early research preview through Claude Code and Anthropic’s developer API. Internal teams have already been using the accelerated version, and access is now gradually expanding to select users.

Anthropic says the feature is intended for high-stakes scenarios where speed matters, such as reviewing large codebases, generating complex scripts, or handling multi-step technical queries. While fast mode requires higher computing resources and comes at a higher operational cost, the company believes the productivity gains will be valuable for professional developers and enterprise teams.

Improvements beyond speed

Claude Opus 4.6 itself brings several performance upgrades beyond faster outputs. The model is designed to handle longer conversations and large documents with improved context retention, reducing the chances of losing track of details during extended coding sessions.

It also introduces stronger planning capabilities, better long-form reasoning, and enhanced error detection during code reviews. These improvements allow developers to work more efficiently across complex projects that involve multiple files, extended logic chains, and ongoing debugging.

For now, fast mode remains available only to users with additional usage enabled on Claude Code and select API partners. Anthropic has positioned the rollout as an experimental phase, with plans to collect feedback before expanding availability more broadly.

Beyond software development, the company sees Claude Opus 4.6 as a general-purpose AI model capable of supporting research, financial analysis, document handling, and productivity tasks. However, the fast mode launch highlights Anthropic’s growing focus on developer tools as competition in AI-powered coding assistants continues to intensify.

With faster response times and stronger long-context performance, Anthropic is aiming to make Claude Code a more practical daily tool for professional software teams working under tight deadlines.