In the described simple DAG, which statement correctly describes the direct causal path to Unsafe_Outputs?

• A. Alignment_Objective directly causes Unsafe_Outputs.
• B. Training_Data_Quality directly causes Unsafe_Outputs.
• C. Deceptive_Behavior directly causes Unsafe_Outputs.
• D. Output_Safety directly causes Unsafe_Outputs.

Answer: (C)

A direct causal path means there is a direct arrow from one variable into Unsafe_Outputs, with no intermediaries. In this DAG, Unsafe_Outputs receives a direct arrow from Deceptive_Behavior, making it the immediate cause of Unsafe_Outputs. The other variables do not point directly into Unsafe_Outputs; they influence the system through other nodes or through Deceptive_Behavior, so they don’t form the direct path. Therefore, Deceptive_Behavior directly causes Unsafe_Outputs.