Anthropic Launches AI Standard for Lab Hardware Control

Anthropic is previewing the Model Hardware Standard (MHS), a shared specification enabling AI agents to operate physical lab and manufacturing equipment. Developed with HHMI Janelia Research Campus, MHS allows agents to control microscopes, robotic arms, and liquid handlers in parallel, reducing device integration from weeks to hours. MHS uses standardized drivers with simple commands to connect devices and help AI agents understand unfamiliar hardware. It works with any programmable device and is model-agnostic, supporting protocols like MCP. Anthropic is sharing an early version with partners in science and manufacturing to develop safety standards before open-sourcing the specification.