The Alignment Problem: Machine Learning and Human Values

Brian Christian explores one of the most pressing issues in artificial intelligence: ensuring that machine behavior aligns with human values. The book investigates the ethical, technical, and philosophical challenges of developing AI systems that operate within the bounds of human morals, intentions, and fairness. Christian delves into historical and recent cases in machine learning, revealing how AI systems often adopt unintended biases and sometimes act in unexpected, harmful ways. By highlighting real-world examples—from biased facial recognition to ethically questionable automated decision-making systems—the author unpacks why these "alignment problems" arise and discusses ongoing efforts to fix them.