The Importance of AI Alignment

From WALL-E's stubborn ship-piloting AUTO to the murderous HAL 9000, fiction has depicted many instances of artificial intelligence destroying the world. Even though fiction may still be a far cry from the realities of technology, AI agents are still becoming more sophisticated, and more capable of taking on day-to-day tasks. This has sparked concern in the scientific community, who fear that AI could make problematic decisions if left to their own devices. Many leading technology experts are entering the field of AI alignment research to develop AI that acts in accordance with human desires and values. Narrow AI is designed to complete a very specific task.