Latent Space: The AI Engineer Podcast
⚡️How Claude 3.7 Plays Pokémon
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.
37:38
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Quick takeaways
- The project Claude Plays Pokémon aims to evaluate AI capabilities by allowing the model to navigate the game and learn from experiences.
- Despite encountering challenges with spatial awareness and navigation, the project highlights the potential for future advancements in AI gaming applications.
Deep dives
Cloud Plays Pokémon: Origins and Concept
The project Cloud Plays Pokémon was inspired by a desire to create a real-world framework for experimenting with AI agents. The developer initially started working on it in June of the previous year, leveraging the release of new models to test their capabilities within the Pokémon universe. Recognizing the nostalgic appeal of Pokémon, the concept drew from the popular Twitch Plays Pokémon phenomenon, where viewers would input commands to guide gameplay collaboratively. This new approach replaced human input with AI, showcasing how well advanced models navigate through game challenges and adapt to long-running tasks.
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