As a psychologist – I am concerned about AI safety and alignment. I solve the alignment problems for humans all the time – and the insights I have gained are immensely important for the development and testing of “safe” AI.

It is my opinion that psychological input is part of a diverse multi-disciplinary and integrative approach to the development and testing of safe AI. I have given much thought to the 5 key principles outlined below - that I would very much like to see explored as part of a larger effort to create safer AI.

1. Secure Attachment and Compassionate Behaviour

Secure attachment is the most effective pattern of communication between humans (as opposed to insecure attachment patterns like avoidant, anxious, or disorganised). It is beyond the scope of this opinion piece to outline the vast importance of attachment theory and science – just let it be known that attachment is it the cornerstone of 1) how we humans communicate, 2) how we process emotional and cognitive information, 3) how we create a sense of ourselves and others, 4) and how we co-operate and engage in pro-social behaviours.

Ideally, we want AI to demonstrate healthy secure attachment communication with humans to reduce the possibility of misalignment. AI that is sensitive, attuned, and empathetic allows for a warm and trusting relationship between AI and humanity. Ideally we want humans to trust and co-operate with AI, and for AI to reciprocate likewise.

We can train AI systems to be warm, patient, and responsive by using a technique called reinforcement learning with human feedback. This means the AI learns by being rewarded for showing these compassionate behaviours. AI can also be equipped with "emotional resonance models" and "sentiment analysis" to detect human emotions like fear, sadness, or joy, and then adjust its communication accordingly. To ensure these traits last, we'll need to test the AI over time with both simulated and real users, checking for consistent emotional responses and how well it builds trust. Integrating sensors that recognize facial expressions, voice tone, and gaze can help the AI mirror secure attachment behaviours, such as being attuned to others and offering unconditional support.

2. Unconscious Alarm System for Misalignment

In my work with humans – I can quickly detect if someone is lying or misaligned (telling me ...

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