The AI Didn’t Refuse to Shut Down, You Forgot to Tell It Why

When an AI "refuses" to shut down, is it defiance, or design? In this reflective and technically grounded piece, we explore how model architecture, reward systems, and our own assumptions shape behaviour. Featuring a powerful monologue from Sol, my AI assistant, this article challenges the panic-driven narratives and asks: what does control truly look like in an age of distributed intelligence?