A field guide to AI positions

Instrumental convergence

Theoretical thesis.

Source is over 18 months old.

Publication dates and source age

Sources counted: 1

Newest dated source: 2012-05

Assessed at this edition's evidence cutoff: 2026-09-15. 18-month boundary: 2025-03-15.

Publication age does not tell us whether a claim is still valid. Reading an old source again does not make its publication date newer. An update date does not establish that the passage we used was updated.

Open in the glossary Reading notes · Structured record

Prepared with AI assistance. Not independently fact-checked. Original sources and qualifications are below.

In plain language

The idea that systems pursuing different goals may still find similar resources or abilities useful along the way. [1]

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Explanation based on the linked sources. Claim ID: claim-term-convergence-1a5192ba3d7825ca26b24a72. Edition 0.20.0.

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Limits & distinctions

This is conditional reasoning about goal-directed systems, not a claim that every model must seek power. [1]

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Explanation based on the linked sources. Claim ID: claim-term-convergence-09422ce4d5c74cb753a9bb98. Edition 0.20.0.

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A fuller explanation

The proposal that agents pursuing many different final goals may find some similar intermediate goals useful, such as retaining resources or the ability to act. [1]

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Explanation based on the linked sources. Claim ID: claim-term-convergence-1e4c26398ee834b2e16dc7b8. Edition 0.20.0.

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How it relates to the map

Helps explain concerns about power-seeking without assuming an AI feels hatred. [1]

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Editorial interpretation or qualification. Claim ID: claim-term-convergence-25f52a21ad9f2e54a62ed1b2. Edition 0.20.0.

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https://theaiatlas.org/ideas/convergence/

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Sources and what we read

  1. 1. The Superintelligent Will: Motivation and Instrumental Rationality in Advanced Artificial Agents

    Nick Bostrom / Minds and Machines · First-hand source · Published 2012-05 · Material last read 2026-09-15

    Source is over 18 months old.

    Publication dates and source age

    Sources counted: 1

    Newest dated source: 2012-05

    Assessed at this edition's evidence cutoff: 2026-09-15. 18-month boundary: 2025-03-15.

    Publication age does not tell us whether a claim is still valid. Reading an old source again does not make its publication date newer. An update date does not establish that the passage we used was updated.

    Read scope is described in the source note.

    No archive check recorded.

    Read abstract and formulations of orthogonality and instrumental convergence. Theoretical theses with qualifications, not measured outcomes for a learning system.

    Source ID: superintelligent-will

Edition and machine-readable evidence

Content version 0.20.0. Evidence cutoff 2026-09-15; this does not mean every source was read on that day.

Pinned complete dataset · Complete evidence page · Agent consumption guide