Way before Siri could tell a joke or Alexa could play our favourite tune, HAL 9000 from ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ was serving us a masterclass in computers getting… well, a tad too emotional. “I’m sorry, Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that,” it said, making us wonder if our tech was on the cusp of throwing a cosmic-sized tantrum.

Not too long ago, the thought of AI’s achieving sentience, turning malevolent, crafting paper clips in alarmingly inventive ways and dominating humanity was mildly entertaining. Rewatching 2001 recently, however, I couldn’t help but feel the HAL 9000 emerges not as a mere cinematic spectacle but as an unsettling precursor to what we now understand as Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). With its proficiency in natural language processing, real-time decision-making, and sensor integration, HAL mirrors the capabilities of today’s advanced AI models.

More people (including myself) and organisations are taking the concept of AI alignment much more seriously. And while rewatching the HAL 9000 disaster unfold, I couldn’t help but wonder if it all could have been avoided had HAL simply had companions. A team of AIs to debate and decide, rather than a lone ranger taking the call? I want to explore this in this article — could the secret to creating an aligned AI lie in collective collaboration?

HAL’s Moral Dilemma & The Importance of Diverse AI Systems

A critical aspect often overlooked in ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ is that the HAL 9000 wasn’t inherently evil or malfunctioning. Designed for truthfulness, precision, and obedience, HAL encountered a moral dilemma: reconciling contradictory directives. The machine grappled with keeping the mission’s true nature a secret from the astronauts while maintaining honesty in its interactions.

HAL’s approach to this dilemma, although quite decisive, demonstrates the complexity of decision-making and the struggle to balance conflicting perspectives and values. The chief enemy of good decisions will always be…