Ok, this might be one of the biggest low-key shifts in how we use AI tools in a while. Anthropic just dropped something called Claude Skills, and I think it’s going to completely change how we build custom automation with AI. Here’s the deal: Claude can now load up little folders full of Markdown instructions (plus optional scripts or resources) to instantly learn a new task. When a relevant job pops up, Claude activates the right skill on the fly. Why this is cool for us: - Skills are just folders with Markdown and maybe a Python script - They only load when needed, keeping token usage low - Used to create files (PDF, Excel, PowerPoint) and more - Can validate stuff like file sizes (e.g. Slack GIF size checks) - Depend on a safe coding environment, like Claude Code - Way lighter than Model Context Protocol (MCP) in both setup and tokens - Can be shared, remixed and easily built by anyone - Don’t even need Claude to use them, other agents can read the folder This kind of plug-and-play AI workflow makes it way easier to customize and scale what your automations can handle. No complicated integrations, just drop in a markdown file! 👉 I'm going to keep an eye on this one. I think it's the next big thing since MCP. Read the full article here: https://www.anthropic.com/news/skills