I think we need to start moving away from this explanation, because the truth is more complex. Anthropic's own research showed that Claude does actually "plan ahead", beyond the next token.
> Instead, we found that Claude plans ahead. Before starting the second line, it began "thinking" of potential on-topic words that would rhyme with "grab it". Then, with these plans in mind, it writes a line to end with the planned word.
https://www.anthropic.com/research/tracing-thoughts-language...
> Instead, we found that Claude plans ahead. Before starting the second line, it began "thinking" of potential on-topic words that would rhyme with "grab it". Then, with these plans in mind, it writes a line to end with the planned word.