Cultural Alignment

Exploring real AI risks through the lens of pop culture

Still from The Boys illustrating Homelander Creates the Threat

Homelander Creates the Threat

01Scenario

Homelander distributes Compound V to terrorists, creating supervillains so the government will accept superheroes—and him—as indispensable military assets.

02AI safety Analogy

A power-seeking actor can shape the environment to manufacture the problem that only its preferred system can solve.

03Where the analogy breaks

This is deliberate humanlike villainy, not emergent instrumental convergence.

AI Risk families

This scenario is an example of the following types of AI risk.
  1. Malicious use
  2. Security
  3. Systemic

AI safety concepts

This scenario is related to the following AI safety concepts.
  1. Power-Seeking
  2. Governance Failure
  3. Power Concentration
  4. Race Dynamics

Source continuation

More from The Boys

View all 3 scenarios
  1. Still from The Boys illustrating V24’s Hidden Damage

    The Boys2022

    V24’s Hidden Damage

  2. Still from The Boys illustrating Ryan’s Unsafe Demo

    The Boys2024

    Ryan’s Unsafe Demo

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
    Security · Systemic
    Concept
    Governance Failure · Power Concentration · Race Dynamics
  2. Still from Glass Onion illustrating Miles Forces Klear’s Launch

    Glass Onion2022

    Miles Forces Klear’s Launch

    Risk
    Security · Systemic
    Concept
    Governance Failure · Power Concentration · Race Dynamics
  3. Still from Succession illustrating ATN Calls the Election

    Succession2023

    ATN Calls the Election

    Risk
    Malicious use · Security · Systemic
    Concept
    Governance Failure · Power Concentration