Key information
A user successfully utilized Anthropic's Claude Opus 5.5 to play the complex grand strategy game Victoria 3. By leveraging the model's computer use capability, the AI was tasked with guiding the Tokugawa Shogunate through the historical challenges of the Bakumatsu period, ultimately achieving the Meiji Restoration.
The AI operated by observing the screen and interacting with the mouse and keyboard, similar to a human player. To manage the game's intricate political, economic, and military systems, the AI was instructed to autonomously accumulate knowledge, develop efficiency tools, and learn through trial and error. It was also permitted to analyze internal game files to understand rules and events.
Before the main attempt, the AI practiced using the game's tutorial mode with Belgium. The author noted that the AI cleared over 30 objectives, demonstrated proficiency with the user interface, and effectively utilized tooltips for decision-making. While the AI occasionally made errors, it proved capable of recovering from potential crises before they became fatal.
To mitigate security risks associated with granting an AI control over a PC, the author restricted the computer use function to the Victoria 3 application only. The experiment was conducted on a secondary machine containing no sensitive data, ensuring that the AI could not access other files or browser functions.
