LessWrong (30+ Karma) “Legible vs. Illegible AI Safety Problems” by Wei Dai
Nov 4, 2025
Wei Dai, a notable writer and researcher focused on AI alignment and existential risk, delves into the intriguing distinction between legible and illegible AI safety problems. He argues that while legible problems may seem critical, they can inadvertently accelerate the deployment of AI, increasing existential risk. In contrast, focusing on illegible issues—often ignored by leaders—can yield higher value for safety efforts. Dai emphasizes that clarifying these obscure problems is nearly as valuable as solving them, highlighting a strategic shift needed within the AI safety community.
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Legible Versus Illegible Safety Problems
- Some AI safety problems are legible to leaders and thus block deployment until solved.
- Other problems are illegible, so deployment may proceed despite them remaining open.
Legible Work Can Backfire On X-Risk
- Working on highly legible safety problems can accelerate deployment timelines and lower x-risk mitigation value.
- Focusing on illegible problems avoids that timeline-accelerating effect and yields higher expected value.
Prioritize Illegible Problems Or Make Them Legible
- Prioritize working on illegible safety problems or on making them more legible.
- Making an illegible problem legible is nearly as valuable as solving it outright.