The Claude API offers a range of capabilities for building AI-powered apps, including text generation, vision, embeddings, tool use, content moderation, model output evaluations, classification tasks, and more. To get started, developers need to create an Anthropic account, add credits, generate an API key, and set up their API connections. The Claude API is priced on a pay-as-you-go model, with different models available at varying price points. Once connected, developers can use Postman or other tools to make API calls and integrate the model into their apps. With its unique output quality and focus on safety and human feel, the Claude model family is well-suited for projects that prioritize these aspects.