Anthropic’s latest AI model, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, just did something unexpected—it played Pokémon Red. Unlike AI trained specifically for gaming, Claude isn't directly interacting with the game code. Instead, it's playing entirely through text, interpreting screen descriptions, and making decisions just like a human would.
What makes this so impressive is how well it handles the game. Claude analyzes battles, manages resources, and even strategizes long-term. It picks effective moves, considers type advantages, and navigates the world of Pokémon with surprising skill. This isn’t just a random AI experiment—it’s a real test of reasoning, memory, and problem-solving in an interactive setting.
Beyond just playing Pokémon, this highlights how AI can engage with storytelling and decision-making in new ways. It’s not just following instructions; it’s thinking through choices, adapting to an evolving world, and experiencing the game much like a human player. Who knows? Maybe in the future, AI won’t just be playing games—it could be playing alongside us.
Check out the full experiment Anthropic on X
