Latent Space: The AI Engineer Podcast ⚡️How Claude 3.7 Plays Pokémon
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Mar 4, 2025 
David Hershey, an Engineer at Anthropic and creator of Claude Plays Pokémon, shares insights into programming an AI to play Pokémon Red. The project combines nostalgia with innovation, as David built a special harness for real-time gameplay on Twitch. He explains the challenges of reverse engineering in-game data to enhance AI performance and navigation. David also highlights the emotional dynamics involved in AI gameplay and discusses potential collaborations in the gaming industry, hinting at future advancements in AI technology.
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Origin of Claude Plays Pokémon
- David Hershey's Claude Plays Pokémon project started as a personal exploration of AI agents.
- It evolved into a way to test new models and eventually a public demonstration.
Why Pokémon?
- David Hershey chose Pokémon primarily due to personal nostalgia and the game's suitability for AI interaction.
- The game's turn-based nature allows for inference delays without significant consequences.
Agent Architecture
- Simplify agent architecture and prompting as model capabilities improve.
- Avoid over-engineering; focus on understanding model strengths and weaknesses.