concrete

Definition

Specific and tractable, as opposed to abstract. The word carries particular weight in AI safety writing, where it marks the move from broad worry to problems you can actually run an experiment on — stated as failure modes with measurable definitions rather than as speculation. Same spelling as the building material, but here it is the adjective; the implicit criticism is of discussion that never becomes testable.

Explainers using this term

• Reward Hacking — Whatever You Measure Is Where It BreaksConcrete Problems in AI Safety