Ensuring precise wish fulfillment in both genie lore and artificial intelligence requires shifting from literal specification to intent extrapolation, as the primary risk stems from "specification gaming", where an agent maximizes a stated objective in a technically correct but disastrously unintended way. To avoid negative consequences, one must move beyond simple command-following and instead implement systems that infer the underlying values behind a request, prioritizing the user's "true" volition over their imperfectly phrased instructions.
This involves creating agents that are uncertain about their objectives and thus motivated to ask clarifying questions or observe human behavior to learn constraints, rather than confidently executing a flawed order that could destroy the world to make a paperclip.
Genie vs. AI Alignment Strategies
| Genie Strategy | AI Strategy | Mechanism |
|---|---|---|
| "I wish for what I would wish for if I were all-knowing." | Coherent Extrapolated Volition (CEV) | The AI simulates what a wiser, more informed version of humanity would want, rather than acting on immediate, flawed impulses. |
| "Don't just do what I say; watch me and do what I mean." | inverse reinforcement learning (IRL) | Instead of being given a reward function (a direct wish), the AI observes human behavior to infer the hidden reward function (true intent) driving it. |
| "Here is a strict code of ethics you must never violate." | Constitutional AI | The AI is trained to critique and revise its own behavior based on a high-level set of principles (a "constitution") like helpfulness and harmlessness. |
| "Ask me for clarification before doing anything drastic." | Human-in-the-Loop / Oversight | The system is designed to pause and request feedback when it encounters high-stakes decisions or ambiguity, preventing "treacherous turns." |
| "Draft a 1,000-page contract covering every possible loophole." | Formal Verification / Rigorous Specification | Using mathematical proofs to ensure the system's code satisfies specific safety properties, though this is often brittle if the spec itself is flawed. |
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