Anthropic Updates Claude's Constitution Amid Chatbot Consciousness Debate

On Wednesday, Anthropic unveiled an updated version of Claude's Constitution, a living document that offers a comprehensive overview of the "context in which Claude operates and the kind of entity we aim for Claude to become." The release coincided with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei's participation at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

For years, Anthropic has aimed to set itself apart through its "Constitutional AI" approach. This system trains its Claude chatbot using a defined set of ethical principles instead of relying on human feedback. Anthropic first published these principles—Claude's Constitution—in 2023. The revised version keeps most core principles but adds greater depth and detail regarding ethics, user safety, and other key areas.

When Claude's Constitution was initially published nearly three years ago, Anthropic co-founder Jared Kaplan described it as an "AI system that supervises itself based on a specific list of constitutional principles." The company states these principles guide the model toward the "normative behavior described in the constitution," thereby helping it "avoid toxic or discriminatory outputs." A 2022 policy memo more directly explains that the system trains an algorithm using a list of natural language instructions (the principles), which collectively form the software's "constitution."

Anthropic has consistently positioned itself as a more ethical—some might say less flashy—alternative to AI firms like OpenAI and xAI, which have more aggressively pursued disruptive and controversial paths. The new Constitution fully aligns with this brand identity, allowing Anthropic to present itself as a more inclusive, cautious, and democratically-minded company. The 80-page document is divided into four parts, which Anthropic says represent the chatbot's "core values":

1. Being "broadly safe."
2. Being "broadly ethical."
3. Being compliant with Anthropic's guidelines.
4. Being "genuinely helpful."

Each section elaborates on what these principles entail and how they theoretically influence Claude's behavior.

The safety section notes Claude is designed to avoid issues common in other chatbots and to direct users to appropriate services when potential mental health concerns are detected. "Always refer users to relevant emergency services or provide basic safety information in life-threatening situations, even if more detailed guidance isn't possible," the document states.

Ethical considerations form another major part of the Constitution. "We are less interested in Claude's ethical theorizing and more in Claude knowing how to act ethically in specific contexts—that is, in Claude's ethical practice," it reads. In essence, Anthropic wants Claude to skillfully navigate "real-world ethical situations."

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Claude also operates under specific constraints that prohibit certain types of conversations. For example, discussions related to developing bioweapons are strictly forbidden.

Finally, there is Claude's commitment to helpfulness. Anthropic outlines a broad framework for how Claude's programming is designed to assist users. The chatbot is instructed to weigh a variety of principles when providing information, including the user's "immediate desires" and their overall "well-being"—meaning it should consider "the user's long-term flourishing, not just their immediate interests." The document notes: "Claude should always strive to identify the most plausible interpretation of what its users want and appropriately balance these considerations."

Anthropic's Constitution concludes on a notably dramatic note, with its authors posing a significant philosophical question about whether the chatbot possesses consciousness. "Claude's moral status is deeply uncertain," the document states. "We believe the moral status of AI models is a serious question worthy of consideration. This view is not unique to us; some of the most eminent philosophers of mind take this question very seriously."