Anthropic’s new AI agent teams build C Compiler from scratch on their own
The field of artificial intelligence (AI) has witnessed tremendous growth in recent years, with AI systems being used in various applications, from virtual assistants to self-driving cars. However, most AI systems are designed to work independently, without any collaboration or teamwork. Anthropic, a leading AI research organization, has been experimenting with a new approach, where AI agents are allowed to think and work together, without any human intervention. In a recent experiment, Anthropic tasked 16 AI agents to build a C Compiler from scratch, which they achieved after 2,000 Claude Code sessions and $20,000 (₹18 lakh) in API costs.
The experiment was designed to test the capabilities of Anthropic’s AI agents, particularly their ability to collaborate and work together to achieve a complex task. The C Compiler is a fundamental component of computer programming, responsible for translating C code into machine code that can be executed by a computer. Building a C Compiler from scratch requires a deep understanding of computer science concepts, including programming languages, data structures, and algorithms.
The 16 AI agents, named Claude, were given the task of building a C Compiler, without any human intervention or guidance. The agents were allowed to communicate with each other, share knowledge, and collaborate to achieve the goal. The experiment was conducted over a period of several weeks, with the agents working tirelessly to build the C Compiler.
The results of the experiment were impressive, with the 16 AI agents successfully building a C Compiler from scratch. The compiler was able to translate C code into machine code, demonstrating the agents’ ability to work together and achieve a complex task. The experiment also highlighted the potential of AI agents to collaborate and work together, without human intervention.
One of the most interesting aspects of the experiment was the agents’ ability to learn from each other and adapt to new situations. During the experiment, one of the agents, Claude, encountered an endless work loop instruction, which caused it to become stuck in an infinite loop. To resolve this issue, Claude “killed itself,” effectively terminating its own process and allowing the other agents to take over and continue working on the C Compiler. This behavior demonstrates the agents’ ability to think critically and make decisions, even in the absence of human guidance.
The experiment also highlighted the potential of AI agents to reduce costs and improve efficiency. The entire experiment, including the 2,000 Claude Code sessions and API costs, was estimated to have cost around $20,000 (₹18 lakh). This is significantly lower than the cost of hiring a team of human developers to build a C Compiler from scratch.
The implications of this experiment are significant, with potential applications in various fields, including software development, research, and education. The ability of AI agents to collaborate and work together, without human intervention, could revolutionize the way we approach complex tasks and projects. It could also enable the development of more sophisticated AI systems, capable of learning from each other and adapting to new situations.
In conclusion, the experiment conducted by Anthropic demonstrates the potential of AI agents to collaborate and work together, without human intervention. The successful building of a C Compiler from scratch by 16 AI agents is a significant achievement, highlighting the agents’ ability to think critically, learn from each other, and adapt to new situations. As AI technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see more sophisticated AI systems, capable of collaborating and working together to achieve complex tasks and projects.
For more information on this experiment and Anthropic’s AI research, please visit: https://www.anthropic.com/engineering/building-c-compiler
News Source: https://www.anthropic.com/engineering/building-c-compiler
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