Long-Term Safety

TECHNICAL DEFINITION

Long-Term Safety (LTS) is a research discipline dedicated to addressing the potential risks associated with highly advanced or superintelligent AI systems that may emerge in the distant future, focusing on fundamental problems like AI alignment, control, and value loading to ensure these systems remain beneficial and do not pose existential threats to humanity.

BACKGROUND

AI safety is an interdisciplinary field focused on preventing accidents, misuse, or other harmful consequences arising from artificial intelligence systems. It encompasses AI alignment, monitoring AI systems for risks, and enhancing their robustness. The field is particularly concerned with existential risks posed by advanced AI models.

SYNONYMS & ALIASES

• AI Alignment Research
• Future AI Safety
• Advanced AI Safety

USAGE NOTE

Long-term safety research is often theoretical, exploring solutions for AI systems that don't yet exist.

DEVELOPERS

Organizations developing technology related to Long-Term Safety.

• OpenAI

  A leading AI research and deployment company that develops advanced AI models and has a dedicated Superalignment team focused on solving the problem of controlling future superintelligent AI systems, addressing long-term safety challenges.

• Anthropic

  An AI safety and research company that builds reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems. Their core mission is to ensure advanced AI systems are beneficial and safe, with a strong focus on alignment and long-term safety research, including through methods like Constitutional AI.

• Google DeepMind

  A global leader in AI research and development, Google DeepMind conducts extensive research into AI safety, ethics, and responsible AI practices, including initiatives aimed at understanding and mitigating potential long-term risks associated with highly capable AI systems.

• Center for AI Safety (CAIS)

  A non-profit organization dedicated to reducing catastrophic risks from AI. CAIS focuses on research and advocacy to ensure the safe development and deployment of advanced AI, prioritizing issues related to long-term alignment and control.

• Alignment Research Center (ARC)

  Founded by Paul Christiano, ARC is a non-profit research organization dedicated to making sure future AI systems are aligned with human interests and values. Their work focuses on fundamental research into AI alignment to ensure long-term safety.

• Machine Intelligence Research Institute (MIRI)

  MIRI is a non-profit research organization working to ensure that future artificial intelligence has a positive impact. They focus on the mathematical and theoretical challenges of AI alignment and control, particularly concerning superintelligent AI and long-term safety.

• AI Safety Institute (UK Government)

  A UK government-backed organization focused on understanding and mitigating the risks of advanced AI. The institute conducts safety evaluations and research to inform policy and ensure the safe development of AI, with a view to long-term societal impact and risk.

• Future of Humanity Institute (FHI) at Oxford University

  An interdisciplinary research center at the University of Oxford that studies grand questions about humanity and its prospects. A significant part of its research focuses on mitigating global catastrophic risks, including those posed by advanced artificial intelligence, with an emphasis on long-term safety and existential risk.