MLOps.community Claude Plays Pokémon - A Conversation with the Creator // David Hershey // #294
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Mar 21, 2025 
David Hershey, a Member of Technical Staff at Anthropic, dives into his innovative project where Claude plays Pokémon. He shares insights on crafting AI experiences, the joys of iterative experimentation, and the challenges of managing information overload in gameplay. The discussion covers the nuances of fine-tuning versus prompt engineering and the potential of AI agents in various professional domains. Hershey also explores the unpredictable future of AI, emphasizing its transformative power across industries.
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Claude Plays Pokémon Origin
- David Hershey created the "Claude Plays Pokémon" project.
- It began as a personal side project and gained unexpected popularity.
Project Motivation
- David Hershey's motivation was to have a fun playground for building agents.
- This project stemmed from his work with customers at Anthropic who were building agents.
Model Progress and Release
- Earlier models showed limited progress in the game, reaching milestones like getting a starter Pokémon.
- The latest model achieved breakthroughs like beating gym leaders, justifying a public release.