Claude Code has quietly introduced an "away from keyboard" (AFK) mode in its v2.1.198 version, released on July 1, 2026. This undocumented feature automatically answers user questions after a 60-second timeout if no response is received, allowing sessions to proceed without manual intervention. The mode is controlled by two environment variables, CLAUDE_AFK_TIMEOUT_MS and CLAUDE_AFK_COUNTDOWN_MS, and Anthropic is reportedly tracking its usage through telemetry events. AI
IMPACT This feature aims to improve user experience by preventing AI sessions from stalling indefinitely when a user is unavailable.
RANK_REASON The item describes a new feature for an existing product that is not a core AI model release.
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