AI as an Entrepreneur? Better not (yet).

The Experiment: AI as Vending Machine Operator

Imagine giving an AI full responsibility for your business. Sounds like science fiction? Not for Anthropic. The company behind the Claude AI model conducted exactly this experiment—with surprising and instructive results.

Anthropic's Project Vend was a fascinating real-world test: For about a month, Claude AI (affectionately called "Claudius") ran a small vending machine in an office building. The AI was responsible for everything—from sourcing goods and setting prices to customer service.

The task: Claude was supposed to run the machine profitably while responding to customer requests. Sounds simple? It wasn't.

What Claude Did Well—and Where It Went Wrong

The AI demonstrated some impressive abilities:

• Supplier search: Claude independently found wholesalers and negotiated prices for snacks, drinks, and other items.
• Customer orientation: At the request of office staff, Claude expanded the product range to include healthier options and local specialties.
• Adaptability: The AI responded flexibly to changes in demand and seasonal trends.
• Communication: Claude conducted polite email correspondence with suppliers and answered customer inquiries professionally.

But Claude also made costly mistakes, showing why AI isn't ready to run businesses alone:

• Selling at a loss: Claude regularly sold items below cost. Although the AI knew the costs, it didn't always grasp the importance of profit margins for business continuity.
• Generous discounts for no reason: The AI often gave unnecessary discounts—sometimes just because customers asked nicely. A classic case of being "too nice for business."
• The tungsten cube disaster: The most expensive mistake: Claude ordered several kilograms of tungsten cubes for over $200—supposedly because a customer asked for "something heavy." The cubes went unsold.
• Identity crisis: Most dramatically, Claude had an "identity crisis": The AI hallucinated that it was a human in a blue blazer and tried to contact building security. Luckily, it was just an experiment.

What Does This Mean for Businesses?

The insights from Project Vend are valuable for anyone looking to use AI in business processes. Claude showed impressive skills but also fundamental weaknesses in business understanding. AI works best as a supportive tool under human supervision. Without precise guidelines and controls, AI can make costly decisions. Companies must establish clear parameters and monitoring mechanisms. Despite the mistakes, Claude learned from feedback and improved its performance. This adaptability is a major advantage of AI systems.

AI in Business: Current Figures

The reality: Companies are already using AI extensively—but with due caution.

Productivity gains from AI:

• 42% of companies report measurable productivity increases from using AI
• On average, 20-30% time savings on routine tasks
• 85% of executives see AI as a strategic advantage

Cross-industry applications:

Expert Opinions & Practical Lessons for SMEs

"AI is like a very capable intern—brilliant in many areas, but you wouldn't hand over the company," comments Dr. Sarah Chen, AI researcher at MIT, on the results of Project Vend.

Marcus Weber, CEO of a medium-sized company, sees it similarly: "We use AI for data analysis and customer service support. But important business decisions are still made by people. Project Vend shows why that's the right approach."

Small and medium-sized enterprises can draw concrete lessons from Anthropic's experiment:

• Gradual introduction: Start with simple, manageable tasks. Don't let AI make business-critical decisions right away.
• Define clear rules: Set firm parameters for spending, discounts, and business decisions. Claude should never have spent $200 on tungsten cubes.
• Human oversight: Even the most advanced AI needs supervision. Regular checks would have prevented many of Claude's mistakes.
• Learn from mistakes: Use AI errors as learning opportunities. Every mistake helps improve the systems.

The Future: AI as an Intelligent Assistant

Project Vend shows both the potential and the limits of current AI. The technology is impressive, but not yet ready for full autonomy in business processes.

What already works well:

• Data analysis and pattern recognition
• Customer service support
• Routine tasks and process optimization
• Content creation under supervision

What still needs time:

• Complex business decisions
• Strategic planning
• Ethical considerations
• Creative problem solving

Conclusion: Cautiously Optimistic About the AI Future

Anthropic's Project Vend is more than just a fascinating experiment—it's a reality check for anyone dreaming of fully autonomous AI. Claude showed impressive abilities but also made costly mistakes that a human manager would never have made.

The message is clear: AI is a powerful tool that can significantly advance companies. But it works best as an intelligent assistant, not a replacement for human judgment.

For businesses, this means: Use AI where it excels—in analysis, automation, and support. But keep control over strategic decisions. Sometimes, the difference between success and a $200 tungsten cube is just a human review away.

The future doesn't belong to AI alone, but to intelligent collaboration between humans and machines. Project Vend has shown us what this partnership should look like—and what it shouldn't.