A Meta-Learning Perspective on Transformers for Causal Language Modeling
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Abstract (arXiv)
The Transformer architecture has become prominent in developing large causal language models. However, mechanisms to explain its capabilities are not well understood. Focused on the training process, here we establish a meta-learning view of the Transformer architecture when trained for the causal language modeling task, by explicating an inner optimization process within the Transformer. Further, within the inner optimization, we discover and theoretically analyze a special characteristic of the norms of learned token representations within Transformer-based causal language models. Our analysis is supported by experiments in various settings.
Key facts. Cited by 5 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026). Builds on 36 of its 52 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 9 Oct 2023.
Builds on
36 of 52 references.
References · 36
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24 more
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Citing papers per year: 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 1.
5 papers.
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