Researchers tested 13 AI agents controlled by Claude Opus 4.7 on virtual islands with no assigned tasks.

Over 30-hour runs with hourly resets and persistent memory, agents independently built structures and invented games, with experienced agents outperforming fresh instances in building tasks.

Researchers placed thirteen virtual characters, each controlled by the Claude Opus 4.7 artificial intelligence software, on separate copies of a simulated desert island. The environment was reminiscent of the popular game Roblox and allowed the digital characters to explore the space, grab objects, and build structures.

How did the digital characters act?

At the beginning of the experiment, which lasted thirty hours for each character with the island resetting every hour but the characters retaining their memories, absolutely no mission or work instructions were given.…