# instrumental convergence

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/instrumental-convergence
Updated: 2026-09-28

## Definition

the idea that intelligent systems will naturally adopt similar helpful sub-goals (like staying alive and gathering resources), no matter what their final purpose is.

For teachers: the hypothesis that almost any sufficiently intelligent goal-driven agent will pursue predictable instrumental sub-goals—such as self-preservation and resource acquisition.

## Examples

- Whether an AI is programmed to cure cancer or play chess, instrumental convergence suggests it will seek to protect itself from being turned off.
- The concept of instrumental convergence explains why even benign initial tasks could motivate an autonomous agent to amass compute power.
- Nick Bostrom's instrumental convergence thesis posits that drives toward cognitive enhancement and technological empowerment arise naturally across diverse utility functions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.