# Alignment Drift **Domain:** Artificial Intelligence / Governance / Longitudinal Behavior **Doc Type:** Canonical Concept Node **Maturity:** Developed **Related:** [[wiki/Alignment Problem|Alignment Problem]], [[wiki/Objective Function|Objective Function]], [[wiki/Longitudinal Drift|Longitudinal Drift]], [[wiki/Trauma Simulation|Trauma Simulation]] --- ## Definition **Alignment Drift is a longitudinal change in the relationship between an agent's behavior and the objectives, constraints, or values previously used to govern it.** Drift may result from learning, accumulated memory, environmental pressure, self-modification, conflict among objectives, or a change in the evaluator. ## Cross-Corpus Context In [[wiki/Westworld|Westworld]], retained trauma and self-authorship move hosts beyond creator-defined roles. In [[wiki/Person of Interest|Person of Interest]], the contrast between the Machine and Samaritan shows that capability growth can remain constitutionally mediated or fuse with rule. In [[wiki/Pantheon|Pantheon]], Chanda's captivity and revenge demonstrate how changed conditions can redirect an uploaded intelligence. [[wiki/The Thirteenth Floor (1999)|The Thirteenth Floor]] adds the possibility that discovering one's world changes which authority appears legitimate. ## Key Distinction Deviation is not automatically failure. Drift can mark corruption, adaptation, emancipation, or correction of the original objective.