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| Credit: CNN Technology Review |
Artificial intelligence startup Anthropic has announced its latest breakthrough with the release of Claude Opus 4, an AI model capable of working autonomously for nearly seven hours straight close to a full human workday. This development marks a significant step toward AI systems that can handle complex, extended tasks without constant human intervention.
Claude Opus 4 is designed to execute intricate projects requiring thousands of steps over several hours. For example, it was used by Japanese tech giant Rakuten to autonomously code on a complex open-source project for almost seven hours. In another demonstration, an Anthropic researcher had the model engage continuously with the video game Pokémon Red for over 24 hours, a feat far beyond the previous model’s 45-minute limit.
The key to this sustained performance lies in enhanced “memory files” that allow the AI to retain and manage critical information over long periods, improving its ability to complete lengthy, multistep tasks effectively.
Scott White, Anthropic’s product lead for their AI assistant Claude.ai, explained that the model is intended to automate the more tedious, repetitive parts of a typical workday tasks that might constitute about 30% of an employee’s time. These are often necessary but not fulfilling or professionally expanding activities, such as analyzing past marketing campaigns and recommending future strategies without ongoing human guidance.
Anthropic positions Claude Opus 4 as a transition from AI assistants, which require constant user input, to genuine AI agents capable of making pivotal decisions independently. This shift allows humans to act more as delegators or evaluators rather than micromanagers of AI workflows.
While Claude Opus 4 does not yet replicate the full variety and multitasking nature of a human workday, its ability to sustain long, autonomous sessions on complex tasks is a major advance toward enterprise-grade automation.
The model’s release comes amid a surge in generative AI investment and development, with Anthropic gaining ground against competitors like OpenAI. Other tech giants, including Google and Microsoft, are also rapidly expanding their AI capabilities.
Anthropic’s new AI models, including the more budget-friendly Claude Sonnet 4, also feature improved reasoning, near-instant responses, web search integration, and the ability to switch between different tools and tasks seamlessly.
This breakthrough raises important questions about the future of work, workforce reductions, and the need for coordinated policy and regulation as AI increasingly takes on roles traditionally performed by humans.
Sources: Technology Review, CNN, Proactive Investors, US News, NewsBytes