Anthropic reports 40% of Claude's tokens fuel code tasks

The surge in coding-related activity has reportedly prompted Anthropic to implement new restrictions on how its AI can be used. According to TechCrunch, the company is tightening usage limits specifically for its Claude Code product. This move comes in response to user behavior that Anthropic claims involves running the AI assistant continuously, around the clock.

The new constraints are being framed as a necessary measure to manage system load and ensure fair access for all subscribers. VentureBeat’s reporting indicates that these changes include the introduction of weekly rate limits for paying users. This has, however, sparked frustration within the developer community, with some calling the throttling a significant hindrance to their workflow.

This high-volume coding usage is not happening in a vacuum. A separate report on Reddit’s r/singularity forum indicates that Anthropic has also released data on Claude’s usage by country, suggesting the company is closely monitoring global adoption patterns and how they correlate with different types of tasks.

The intense computational demand of code generation and explanation appears to be a key driver behind the new policies. Processing code consumes a significant amount of the AI's resources, measured in tokens. The fact that such a large portion of Claude’s total capacity is being dedicated to this single type of task underscores a massive shift in how developers are integrating AI into their daily tools. They aren’t just asking for the occasional code snippet; they are leveraging the model for extensive, sustained development work.

For power users needing even more capacity, Anthropic seems to be segmenting its market. Ars Technica reported on the launch of a new top-tier subscription plan, dubbed Claude Max, priced at $200. This plan reportedly offers a 20x increase in usage limits, catering directly to the heavy-duty needs that are now straining the standard systems.

The situation presents a classic scaling challenge. Anthropic has a hit product with Claude Code, but its very popularity is testing the limits of the company's infrastructure. The implementation of rate limits is a direct, if unpopular, reaction to the fact that a minority of power users can consume a disproportionate share of a finite resource. It’s a balancing act between providing unlimited utility and maintaining a stable service for everyone, all while managing astronomical compute costs.

The developer backlash highlighted by VentureBeat is a predictable outcome. For those who have integrated Claude deeply into their development cycle, any reduction in access feels like a downgrade. Their frustration points to the growing dependence on these AI tools, which are rapidly moving from novelty to necessity in the software development lifecycle.

What emerges is a picture of a company adapting in real-time to unexpected user behavior. Anthropic is now navigating the complex logistics of supporting an AI that has found its killer app not in poetry or party tricks, but in the precise, demanding, and token-hungry world of programming.