aiqbench analysis
This research introduces L2W, a framework enabling precise "surgical" post-editing of large language models to remove specific semantic targets like identity claims or safety refusals without degrading general capabilities. By combining Jacobian lens attribution with counterexample-guided causal cuts, the method effectively isolates and modifies redundant model components responsible for unwanted behaviors while preserving other functions. The findings highlight a critical new capability in model governance, demonstrating that targeted behavioral edits can be performed after training to complement existing post-training alignment techniques.
From Latents to Wires: Surgical Post-Editing on Large Language Models
arXiv:2609.32434v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: Given a large language model (LLM), can whoever holds the weights name a semantic target (e.g., the model's identity), locate the model components that produce it, and edit them so that the target no longer appears while other capability is preserved? We call such an edit on a trained model a post-edit. We present L2W (latents to wires), a framework that performs surgical post-edits for named semantic targets. For localization, L2W uses Jacobian lens (J-lens) attribution to score components against the semantic target. For surgical removal, because LLM mechanisms are redundant (i.e., a semantic target may have multiple components producing it), L2W runs Counterexample-Guided Causal Cut (CGCC) until the target no longer appears. CGCC first cumulatively closes model components, treating each surviving expression of the target as a counterexample that exposes the next components to close, and then reopens some of them to preserve capability. In a controlled experiment with an implanted behavioural watermark, L2W removes the watermark, and its localization lands on the model region the implant changed. Across three model configurations, L2W removes model-metadata (e.g., identity) self-claims in all nine runs, and adult-content refusal in all three, with no held-out target residual. L2W further composes two post-edits on a text-to-image model: one removes the refusal of requested nudity, and a second removes the nude rendering the first exposes. The results support post-editing as a complement to post-training: post-training installs preferred behaviours, and post-editing removes named unwanted ones.
Abstract:Given a large language model (LLM), can whoever holds the weights name a semantic target (e.g., the model's identity), locate the model components that produce it, and edit them so that the target no longer appears while other capability is preserved? We call such an edit on a trained model a post-edit. We present L2W (latents to wires), a framework that performs surgical post-edits for named semantic targets. For localization, L2W uses Jacobian lens (J-lens) attribution to score components against the semantic target. For surgical removal, because LLM mechanisms are redundant (i.e., a semantic target may have multiple components producing it), L2W runs Counterexample-Guided Causal Cut (CGCC) until the target no longer appears. CGCC first cumulatively closes model components, treating each surviving expression of the target as a counterexample that exposes the next components to close, and then reopens some of them to preserve capability. In a controlled experiment with an implanted behavioural watermark, L2W removes the watermark, and its localization lands on the model region the implant changed. Across three model configurations, L2W removes model-metadata (e.g., identity) self-claims in all nine runs, and adult-content refusal in all three, with no held-out target residual. L2W further composes two post-edits on a text-to-image model: one removes the refusal of requested nudity, and a second removes the nude rendering the first exposes. The results support post-editing as a complement to post-training: post-training installs preferred behaviours, and post-editing removes named unwanted ones.
Artificial Intelligence (cs.AI)
arXiv:2609.32434 [cs.AI]
(or arXiv:2609.32434v1 [cs.AI] for this version)
https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2609.32434 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite (pending registration)
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