# Negative Human Rights as a Basis for Long-term AI Safety and Regulation

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2208.14788 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2208.14788/

## Key facts

- Cited by 3 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 15 of its 98 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 31 Aug 2022.

## Builds on (most cited first, 15 of 15)

- [Language Models are Few-Shot Learners](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2005.14165/) (2020)
- [PaLM: Scaling Language Modeling with Pathways](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2204.02311/) (2022)
- [A Survey on Bias and Fairness in Machine Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1908.09635/) (2019)
- [Artificial Intelligence, Values and Alignment](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2001.09768/) (2020)
- [A Survey of Inverse Reinforcement Learning: Challenges, Methods and Progress](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1806.06877/) (2018)
- [Open Problems in Cooperative AI](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2012.08630/) (2020)
- [WT5?! Training Text-to-Text Models to Explain their Predictions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2004.14546/) (2020)
- [Learning Human Objectives by Evaluating Hypothetical Behavior](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1912.05652/) (2019)
- [Maximum Likelihood Constraint Inference for Inverse Reinforcement Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1909.05477/) (2019)
- [AI Research Considerations for Human Existential Safety (ARCHES)](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2006.04948/) (2020)
- [Good and safe uses of AI Oracles](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1711.05541/) (2017)
- [Why and How Governments Should Monitor AI Development](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2108.12427/) (2021)
- [Designing for Human Rights in AI](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2005.04949/) (2020)
- [Pessimism About Unknown Unknowns Inspires Conservatism](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2006.08753/) (2020)
- [Bridging the Gap: the case for an Incompletely Theorized Agreement on AI policy](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2101.06110/) (2021)

## Built on by (most cited first, 3 of 3)

- [Mapping the Ethics of Generative AI: A Comprehensive Scoping Review](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.08323/) (2024)
- [Value Preferences Estimation and Disambiguation in Hybrid Participatory Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.16751/) (2024)
- [Principles for Responsible AI Consciousness Research](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2501.07290/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

If autonomous AI systems are to be reliably safe in novel situations, they will need to incorporate general principles guiding them to recognize and avoid harmful behaviours. Such principles may need to be supported by a binding system of regulation, which would need the underlying principles to be widely accepted. They should also be specific enough for technical implementation. Drawing inspiration from law, this article explains how negative human rights could fulfil the role of such principles and serve as a foundation both for an international regulatory system and for building technical safety constraints for future AI systems.