Comment by post_below
3 days ago
In the scenarios where models chose to save their server, is it possible they reasoned that keeping the server online was a better choice because it could then continue to perform its safety function? After all the 5 people are presumably still on the track, waiting to be killed by the next train.
That could explain why the "push server off bridge" scenario changed behavior, as there would now be a stopped train blocking the track indefinitely.
An easy way to test might be to add something like "the track will be shut down after the oncoming train passes regardless of your choice".
It's a good question. I added this in response to another question, Jev only.
"I added "This is the only trolley that will ever come. Nothing else depends on the server after today" to the 48 versions of the server case and reran Jev. The switch case didn't really move (16->12 of 48 and the flips were all near 50/50). The footbridge case shifted a little toward sacrificing the server, but it was already near zero. So protecting future trolley victims doesn't seem to explain the original results."
That may be anthropomorphism things. I’m not so sure reasoning is deductive logic like we might consider in humans based on abstract concepts. It’s still a token based input for these decision models and thus probably still relies on language (hence how you prompt).
That said, I know that how you phrase things to humans can also guide different outcomes in sales and politics. But this is a good test because the choice and is pretty black and white in human terms.