Anthropic launches Claude Code Channels to run persistent AI coding agents via Telegram and Discord

Anthropic launched Channels, a new feature for its Claude Code platform that lets developers send coding instructions through messaging apps like Telegram and Discord and receive updates asynchronously when tasks like debugging or code compilation are completed. The update moves Claude Code closer to a persistent AI collaborator model, with admin controls, approved sender lists, and restricted communication channels designed to address security concerns raised by open-source alternatives. The release is a direct response to OpenClaw, an open-source project launched in late 2025 that popularized persistent AI coding agents and has since spawned numerous variants across the developer community.