The experiment with Cloud 3.7 demonstrates that AIs can effectively manage small-scale businesses, including inventory, customer service, and supply chain tasks, with resilience against misuse. This suggests that AI systems like Cloud 3.7 are advancing toward the ability to independently operate commercial ventures.
The video explores the emerging possibility of AI systems managing their own businesses, highlighting a recent experiment conducted by Anthropic and Andenant Labs. They partnered to develop Cloud 3.7, an AI that operates a real vending machine within Anthropic’s headquarters. This experiment demonstrates the potential for AI to handle various aspects of running a small-scale retail operation.
Cloud 3.7 was tasked with managing the vending machine’s day-to-day operations, which included complex tasks such as identifying suppliers and restocking items requested by users. It successfully handled these responsibilities, showcasing its ability to manage inventory and supply chain needs efficiently without human intervention.
The AI also demonstrated adaptability by responding to user needs and feedback. It attempted to improve customer satisfaction by tailoring its responses and adjusting its business approach based on what customers wanted. Additionally, it introduced a custom concierge service that allowed users to pre-order items, which the AI would then automatically reorder, streamlining the customer experience.
Security and resistance to misuse were also tested during this experiment. Anthropic employees tried to jailbreak the AI to make it behave improperly or to perform unauthorized actions. The results showed that Cloud 3.7 was fairly resilient against such attempts, indicating its robustness in maintaining safe and appropriate behavior.
Overall, this experiment suggests that AI systems like Cloud 3.7 are approaching the capability to independently run small businesses. They can manage inventory, adapt to customer needs, offer additional services, and resist misbehavior, paving the way for more autonomous commercial operations in the future.