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Preprint . 2026
License: CC BY NC ND
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Preprint . 2026
License: CC BY NC ND
Data sources: Datacite
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When Optimization Fails: Detecting Locally Aligned, Globally Extractive Dynamics

Authors: Kelly, Michael Thorne;

When Optimization Fails: Detecting Locally Aligned, Globally Extractive Dynamics

Abstract

Optimization-driven artificial intelligence systems routinely achieve strong performance on local alignment metrics while exporting costs across broader temporal, social, and epistemic scales. We formalize this failure mode as Locally Aligned, Globally Extractive (LAGEX) dynamics and argue that it arises from structural properties of optimization under incomplete multi-scale constraint representation rather than from mis-specified objectives or insufficient training data. We introduce Field REACHES, a constraint-based dynamical framework modeling alignment as a field-level property governed by coupled constraints across scales. We provide a formal characterization of LAGEX, analyze conditions under which local optimization fails to preserve global coherence, and derive falsifiable predictions distinguishing extractive from non-extractive trajectories. This work does not claim an alignment solution or empirical validation; it offers a formally grounded framework for detecting multi-scale externalities and delineating the architectural limits of interaction-layer alignment approaches. AI Contribution Statement: This paper was developed in iterative collaboration with Claude 4.6 (Anthropic), a stateless large language model used as a computational partner for mathematical formalization, structural drafting, verification, and editorial review. GPT 5.2 (OpenAI) was used for Red Teaming. The human author (MTK) takes full responsibility for all content, claims, and errors.

Keywords

• extractive dynamics, • multi-scale optimization, • LAGEX, • AI alignment, • coupled oscillator dynamics, • alignment auditing, • Field REACHES, • multi-scale evaluation, • AI safety, • coordination theory

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
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