Safety, Alignment & Ethics
Constitutional AI
Anthropic's approach to training AI using a set of principles rather than only human feedback.
Definition
Constitutional AI is a training method developed by Anthropic to improve the safety and helpfulness of AI systems. Instead of relying entirely on human ratings of responses, it trains the model using a set of explicit principles — a 'constitution' — that guides what constitutes a good or harmful response. The model critiques and revises its own outputs against these principles. This produces more consistent safety behaviour and reduces dependence on the scale of human feedback.
Related Terms
RLHF (Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback)
Teaching an AI to improve its responses using human ratings to align it with human preferences.
AI Alignment
The challenge of ensuring AI systems pursue goals that match human values and intentions.
AI Safety
The field focused on preventing AI from causing harm — intentional or unintentional.
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Disclaimer
This definition is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It represents a general explanation of a technical concept and does not constitute professional, technical, or investment advice. Artificial intelligence is a rapidly evolving field; terminology, techniques, and capabilities change frequently. Coaley Peak Ltd makes no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, or currency of the information provided. Nothing on this page should be relied upon as the sole basis for commercial, technical, legal, or investment decisions without independent professional advice.
Document reference: ISO_webpage_knowledge-base_glossary_v1
Last modified: 29 March 2026
Knowledge Base·Safety, Alignment & Ethics·Constitutional AI