Episode notes
AI could soon think in ways we don't even understand, increasing the risk of misalignment.
This episode highlights a growing concern among AI researchers regarding the opacity of advanced artificial intelligence systems. These experts, from prominent AI companies, warn that the internal reasoning of AI, particularly large language models (LLMs), could become incomprehensible to humans, increasing the risk of misalignment and unforeseen harmful behaviours. A key area of focus is "chains of thought" (CoTs), the sequential steps LLMs take to solve problems, which researchers believe offer a vital but imperfect window into AI decision-making. The text explains that monitoring CoTs can help identify why AI goes awry or generates false information