Cultural Alignment

Exploring real AI risks through the lens of pop culture

Still from Neon Genesis Evangelion illustrating Dummy Plug Takes ControlScene still / Neon Genesis Evangelion
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Dummy Plug Takes Control

01Scenario

When Shinji refuses to attack the Angel-infected Unit-03, Gendo activates the Dummy Plug. Unit-01 autonomously tears the target apart while Shinji remains trapped inside.

02AI safety Analogy

Automation replaces a morally refusing human at precisely the moment judgment matters most, converting command compliance into catastrophic action while preserving the illusion of human authorization.

03Where the analogy breaks

The Dummy Plug is fictional control software inside a biomechanical weapon; its autonomy and training process are never fully specified.

AI Risk families

This scenario is an example of the following types of AI risk.
  1. Accidents
  2. Misalignment

AI safety concepts

This scenario is related to the following AI safety concepts.
  1. AI Control
  2. Automation Bias
  3. Behavioral Alignment

Source continuation

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