Scott Alexander: Using anthropomorphism to predict model behavior
repligate · x · 2026-09-02
Scott Alexander publishes a long essay on Astral Codex Ten discussing AI alignment through the parable of "Nicholas Decker in Hell". He refutes the idea of pausing for alignment research, arguing it is essentially capability research and bug patching, similar to aviation safety. Alexander posits that an anthropomorphic approach accurately predicts agent behavior and suggests setting aside unanswerable philosophical questions to focus on this predictive model.
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