Alignment

/əˈlaɪn.mənt/ · noun

Meaning

An arrangement of items in a line..

Definitions by Sense

1. An arrangement of items in a line.
2. The process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned; the condition of having its parts so adjusted.
3. An alliance of factions.
4. (artificial intelligence) The goals and values of an artificial intelligence, considered relative to human ethical standards.
5. (roleplaying games) One of a set number of moral positions or philosophies a character can take.
6. (astronomy) The conjunction of two celestial objects.
7. (transport) The precise route or course taken by a linear way (road, railway, footpath, etc.) between two points.
8. (bioinformatics) A way of arranging DNA, RNA or protein sequences in order to identify regions of similarity.

Example Sentences

the alignment problem

the alignment tax

It turns out that there’s little overlap between the communities concerned primarily with such short-term risks and those who worry more about longer-term alignment risks.

The issue of chatbot responses that veer into strange territory is widely known among researchers. In an interview last week, Sam Altman, the chief executive of OpenAI, said improving what's known as "alignment" — how the responses safely reflect a user's will — was "one of these must-solve problems."

But many in the field are concerned that Big Tech companies are sidelining alignment research efforts in the race to keep building and releasing the technology into the world.

an alignment chart

Synonyms for alignment

Antonyms for alignment

Related Words

Word Forms

• alignments
• alinement
• allignment
• alignement

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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