Anthropic has released Claude Sonnet 5, calling it its “most agentic Sonnet model yet”The new model is designed to make plans, use tools like browsers and terminals, and run more autonomouslySonnet 5 is available across Anthropic plans, and is now the default model for Claude Free and Pro usersAnthropic has released a new version of Claude, called Sonnet 5, which it’s calling “the most agentic Sonnet model yet.” Agentic models are designed to do more than simply answer questions. They can plan, use tools, and carry out tasks with less step-by-step input from the user.According to Anthropic, the new Sonnet 5 can “make plans, use tools like browsers and terminals, and run autonomously at a level that, just a few months ago, required larger and more expensive models.”Sonnet 5 is aimed at coding and everyday professional work. Anthropic says the latest version outperforms the previous Sonnet 4.6, scoring 80.5% in Agentic Coding using Terminal-bench 2.1, compared to 67% for Sonnet 4.6.Despite being aimed at professionals, the new release isn’t being restricted to paid users. It's available across Anthropic plans and is the new default model for Free and Pro users, and is available to Max, Team, and Enterprise users as well. It’s also available in Claude Code and on the Claude Platform.The age of the agentsClaude Sonnet 5 is now the default model, even for Free plan users. (Image credit: Anthropic)The release of Sonnet 5 marks a wider shift in the AI race. Chatbots are no longer just competing to sound smarter in a conversation. They are increasingly competing to act like agents — tools that can plan, code, browse, investigate problems, and complete work with less hand-holding.Sonnet 5 arrives soon after the release of Gemini Spark, Google’s 24/7 agentic personal assistant AI. Anthropic is also launching Sonnet 5 at the same time that Fable 5 and Mythos 5 have become wrapped up in government scrutiny. Claude Fable 5 has just been re-released after being restricted by the US government, while OpenAI’s GPT-5.6 is still under review.How AI models are changingClaude Sonnet 5 may look like just another model launch, but it points to a bigger change in how AI companies are competing. The next stage of the AI war will not be won by the chatbot that gives the neatest answer. It will be won by the assistant that can take a messy task, keep track of the plan, and actually get something useful done.AI assistants will increasingly complete tasks rather than just suggest steps. In this new future, the best model may not be the one with the cleverest answer, but the one that can finish the job.