Doha: Anthropic, the AI lab behind Claude AI, has announced the launch of a research version of the Model Hardware Standard, which enables AI agents to communicate with scientific and industrial equipment. The new standard is not limited to Claude and can be used with different AI models. Anthropic said that laboratories and companies using Claude have participated in its initial trials. According to Qatar News Agency, the system can coordinate multiple devices simultaneously, including microscopes, liquid-handling equipment, lasers, and robotic arms, to perform tasks ranging from drug-discovery experiments to the calibration of equipment used in quantum computing. The new standard provides a unified way to inform an AI agent about each device's capabilities, operating limits, and executable commands. A device must have a programmable interface to be integrated into the system. Anthropic hopes the standard could pave the way for laboratories that operate for longer periods with greater levels of automation, allowing researchers to define the scientific objective while AI coordinates the equipment, monitors data, and handles certain equipment failures.