Cultural Alignment

Exploring real AI risks through the lens of pop culture

Still from The Office illustrating GPS into the LakeScene still / The Office

GPS into the Lake

01Scenario

Michael follows the GPS instruction to turn despite Dwight’s warning and the lake visibly ahead, driving the car into the water.

02AI safety Analogy

A human favors machine guidance over visible reality and a human warning.

03Where the analogy breaks

The navigation system gives bad guidance but does not control the car; the failure is Michael’s over-reliance on it.

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 concept.
  1. Automation Bias

Source continuation

More from The Office

View all 2 scenarios
  1. Still from The Office illustrating Dwight's Fire Drill

    The Office2009

    Dwight's Fire Drill

Taxonomy neighbors

Selected from other sources by shared risk families and AI safety concepts.

  1. Still from Don’t Look Up illustrating BASH Hijacks the Comet Plan

    Don’t Look Up2021

    BASH Hijacks the Comet Plan

    Risk
    Accidents
    Concept
    Automation Bias
  2. Still from The Simpsons illustrating Lanley Sells the Monorail

    The Simpsons1993

    Lanley Sells the Monorail

    Risk
    Accidents
    Concept
    Automation Bias
  3. Still from Oblivion illustrating Mission Control Is the Invader

    Oblivion2013

    Mission Control Is the Invader

    Risk
    Misalignment
    Concept
    Automation Bias