Anthropic launches a research preview of the Model Hardware Standard (MHS) for AI control of lab and factory equipment
Anthropic, in collaboration with HHMI Janelia Research Campus, has opened a research preview of the Model Hardware Standard (MHS), a shared specification that standardizes drivers, discovery, and control primitives so AI agents can operate multiple lab and manufacturing devices (microscopes, liquid handlers, robotic arms, etc.). The preview—shared with select scientific labs and advanced manufacturers—is model-agnostic, works with protocols like the Model Context Protocol (MCP), and aims to reduce bespoke integration time from weeks/months to hours/minutes while enabling autonomous orchestration and safety evaluations ahead of a wider open-source release.