Emergence in Multi-Agent Systems: A Safety Perspective

TL;DR

This paper analyzes how emergent effects in multi-agent systems can lead to safety issues due to misalignments between global specifications and local behaviors, proposing a framework and mitigation strategies.

Contribution

It introduces a formal framework to understand emergent effects in multi-agent systems and suggests parameter adjustments to improve safety and alignment.

Findings

Emergent effects can cause behavior deviations in multi-agent systems.

Misalignments between global and local specifications are key to emergent risks.

Parameter adjustments can mitigate unintended emergent behaviors.

Abstract

Emergent effects can arise in multi-agent systems (MAS) where execution is decentralized and reliant on local information. These effects may range from minor deviations in behavior to catastrophic system failures. To formally define these effects, we identify misalignments between the global inherent specification (the true specification) and its local approximation (such as the configuration of different reward components or observations). Using established safety terminology, we develop a framework to understand these emergent effects. To showcase the resulting implications, we use two broadly configurable exemplary gridworld scenarios, where insufficient specification leads to unintended behavior deviations when derived independently. Recognizing that a global adaptation might not always be feasible, we propose adjusting the underlying parameterizations to mitigate these issues, thereby improving the system's alignment and reducing the risk of emergent failures.