David Hershey

David Hershey leads the Applied AI team at Anthropic and discusses the groundbreaking Claude Sonnet 4.5. He highlights the impressive strides AI agents have made in coding and persistent tasks, while also addressing their shortcomings. David dives into the unexpected applications of AI in legal work, the swift adaptability of Sonnet 4.5, and its remarkable performance in autonomous coding tasks. He also emphasizes the evolving engineering landscape, where collaboration with AI tools can redefine productivity.

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.

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.