Asymptotically Unambitious Artificial General Intelligence
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Abstract (arXiv)
General intelligence, the ability to solve arbitrary solvable problems, is supposed by many to be artificially constructible. Narrow intelligence, the ability to solve a given particularly difficult problem, has seen impressive recent development. Notable examples include self-driving cars, Go engines, image classifiers, and translators. Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) presents dangers that narrow intelligence does not: if something smarter than us across every domain were indifferent to our concerns, it would be an existential threat to humanity, just as we threaten many species despite no ill will. Even the theory of how to maintain the alignment of an AGI's goals with our own has proven highly elusive. We present the first algorithm we are aware of for asymptotically unambitious AGI, where "unambitiousness" includes not seeking arbitrary power. Thus, we identify an exception to the Instrumental Convergence Thesis, which is roughly that by default, an AGI would seek power, including over us.
Key facts. Cited by 7 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026). First posted on arXiv 29 May 2019.
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Citing papers per year: 2021: 4; 2022: 1; 2023: 0; 2024: 0; 2025: 1; 2026: 1.
7 papers.
- 2021Agent Incentives: A Causal Perspectivecited by 51
- 2022A Complete Criterion for Value of Information in Soluble Influence Diagramscited by 5
- 2021Fully General Online Imitation Learningcited by 4
- 2021Intelligence and Unambitiousness Using Algorithmic Information Theorycited by 3
- 2021Demanding and Designing Aligned Cognitive Architecturescited by 0
- 2025Exploring Societal Concerns and Perceptions of AI: A Thematic Analysis through the Lens of Problem-Seekingcited by 0
- 2026Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Ecosystem: Evolutionary Developments, Challenges, and Future Directionscited by 0
- 2026Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Ecosystem: Evolutionary Developments, Challenges, and Future Directions27 Jul 2026
- 2025Exploring Societal Concerns and Perceptions of AI: A Thematic Analysis through the Lens of Problem-Seeking29 May 2025
- 2022A Complete Criterion for Value of Information in Soluble Influence Diagrams23 Feb 2022
- 2021Demanding and Designing Aligned Cognitive Architectures19 Dec 2021
- 2021Intelligence and Unambitiousness Using Algorithmic Information Theory13 May 2021
- 2021Fully General Online Imitation Learning17 Feb 2021
- 2021Agent Incentives: A Causal Perspective2 Feb 2021