OpenAI

Based on real interviews

Deliberative alignment failure modes

Examine where reasoning over a written safety specification can fail to constrain a model's answer.

Unlock with Full Access

The challenge

The model is trained to recall and reason about safety specifications before responding. Your memo must explain failures specific to that process, from how the specification is represented to how the final response is produced. Propose ways to test the mechanisms you identify and select a focused research direction.

What you'll practise

  • Specification reasoning

    Trace how a failure arises within the training or inference process.

  • Mechanism testing

    Separate a plausible explanation from one supported by a discriminating evaluation.

  • Mitigation trade-offs

    Explain what your proposed change fixes and which risks remain.

Your writing workspacePreview
Your deliberative-alignment memoYour response
Your recommendation

Write your reasoning and submit it for feedback.

The full brief and feedback are included with Full Access.