Anthropic Produces AI-Generated C Compiler Passing Real-World Builds

Anthropic researchers used sixteen AI agents over two weeks and roughly $20,000 in API costs to produce a roughly 100,000-line C compiler that compiles the Linux kernel and passes 99% of GCC’s torture tests. The project contained no human-written compiler code but required a researcher to orchestrate tests, CI, and agent coordination. The result highlights both AI capability and practical limitations, notably inefficiency.