safety security
A Small Steering Dose Predicted the Larger Damage
Predictive Memory Localization uses low-strength causal responses to forecast whether an activation intervention will remain selective.
Summary
Predictive Memory Localization uses low-strength causal responses to forecast whether an activation intervention will remain selective.
Across 30,000 direction-layer paths and 210,000 strength evaluations, the study separates target movement from harm to semantic neighbors and general capability. Responses at an absolute strength of 0.1 were the strongest predictor of held-out outcomes at 0.25 and 0.5. A selector that could abstain improved reported utility and reduced collateral damage relative to one fixed strength; the result is a bounded intervention study across three matched base models.
Why it matters
Predictive Memory Localization uses low-strength causal responses to forecast whether an activation intervention will remain selective.
Limits and context
No additional limitation was separately recorded.
Key claims
Predictive Memory Localization uses low-strength causal responses to forecast whether an activation intervention will remain selective.
Evidence: source-2026-08-15-012
Sources
- arXiv preprint 2608.12892arXiv · primary research
Corrections
No corrections have been recorded for this story.