Irving: TCS's 'obstacle culture' offers hope for alignment research

geoffreyirving · x · 2026-08-25

Geoffrey Irving expressed optimism about theoretical computer scientists joining AI alignment. He noted the field's rich 'obstacle culture,' characterized by theorems formally blocking certain types of algorithms or proofs, which provides a valuable mindset for navigating alignment challenges.

Related event: Irving: ML Lacks an Obstacles Culture, Hindering Alignment Research(2 posts)→

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