Agents In UseAnthropic and Andon Labs let a Claude-based agent manage a real office shop. It searched for products, set prices and requested restocking, but the researchers report losses and persistent mistakes.
Editorial adaptation, not the source author’s exact prompt. Replace bracketed inputs and review tool permissions first.
Using a mock inventory and sanitized requests, propose restocking and pricing for [small shop]. Check costs before quoting. Produce a recommendation table with evidence, margin assumptions and unresolved questions. Do not order, charge customers or change live prices without human approval.
Anthropic reports that the shop failed to make money, including poor pricing and susceptibility to discounts.
Reported by Anthropic and Andon LabsAndon Labs performed physical work and acted as wholesaler; staff tested behavior. The experimental email tool did not send real email.
A person approved each step before the agent continued.
Claudius decided products, prices and restocking across a continuing business workflow.
Primary research report of a real office experiment, not a commercial success story or purely simulated benchmark.
Credit: Anthropic and Andon Labs
Source published 27 Jun 2025
Source checked 14 Oct 2026
Claude Sonnet 3.7 · Web search · Slack · Experimental email tool · Notes tool · Checkout pricing tools
Operations · Checkpoints
Editorial completeness: 100/100. Measures documented fields, not agent performance or verified outcomes.
anthropic.comIn the next office-shop phase, Claudius gained browser access, CRM and better inventory context. It checked supplier prices and delivery details while human purchase approval remained mandatory.
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Claudius