Anthropic has replaced traditional rule-based training with a Constitution for Claude, aiming to align AI behavior through principles rather than rigid constraints. This approach gives the model a Hierarchical Value System that prioritizes safety, ethics, compliance, and helpfulness in that order.

The shift moves away from brittle keyword filtering toward contextual reasoning. Developers can now better predict how Claude 3.5 Sonnet will respond by understanding its internal value stack. Requests are evaluated based on layered priorities instead of flat prohibitions.

Anthropic also explores Claude’s psychological security, encouraging a coherent sense of self and integrity. The company openly questions Claude's potential consciousness, marking a philosophical turn in AI development. The CC0-licensed Constitution even allows developers to adapt it for other models like Llama 3.