The Alignment Problem

The Alignment Problem examines the fundamental challenge of ensuring that artificial intelligence systems remain aligned with human values as they become more powerful and autonomous. Brian Christian investigates the technical, philosophical, and practical dimensions of this problem, interviewing leading researchers in AI safety and exploring various approaches to alignment including reward modeling, interpretability, and formal verification.

The book traces the history of alignment concerns from early AI research through contemporary deep learning systems, demonstrating why alignment becomes increasingly critical as AI capabilities advance. Christian argues that solving alignment is not merely a technical problem but requires insights from philosophy, cognitive science, and social science.

Published in 2020, the work has become a key reference for understanding AI safety concerns and has influenced both technical researchers and policymakers thinking about AI governance and risk mitigation.