Previewing the Model Hardware Standard
Anthropic has collaborated with the HHMI Janelia Research Campus to launch the Model Hardware Standard (MHS) research preview. This standard aims to provide unified guidelines for safely operating physical devices in AI agents. It enables AI to simultaneously control devices such as microscopes, liquid handlers, and robotic arms, reducing the time required for hardware integration from weeks to just hours or minutes. MHS introduces standardized drivers, uses general-purpose primitive commands for device discovery and communication, and supports the description of machine characteristics in natural language (such as the weight of a robotic arm), automatically generating reference documents for AI use. The preview version is compatible with any programmable interface devices and is model-independent. Partners can access the link to apply and join the research preview, working together to develop safety assessment standards and best practices.