Explanation, Debate, Align: A Weak-to-Strong Framework for Language Model Generalization
On the map: LLM alignment / RLHF / preference optimisation → Human values and AI feedback alignment
Abstract (arXiv)
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence systems has brought the challenge of AI alignment to the forefront of research, particularly in complex decision-making and task execution. As these systems surpass human-level performance in sophisticated problems, ensuring their alignment with human values, intentions, and ethical guidelines becomes crucial. Building on previous work in explanation generation for human-agent alignment, we address the more complex dynamics of multi-agent systems and human-AI teams. This paper introduces a novel approach to model alignment through weak-to-strong generalization in the context of language models. We present a framework where a strong model facilitates the improvement of a weaker model, bridging the gap between explanation generation and model alignment. Our method, formalized as a facilitation function, allows for the transfer of capabilities from advanced models to less capable ones without direct access to extensive training data. Our results suggest that this facilitation-based approach not only enhances model performance but also provides insights into the nature of model alignment and the potential for scalable oversight of AI systems.
Key facts. Cited by 1 paper in the map (data through 7 Oct 2026). Placed in Human values and AI feedback alignment, one of 10 directions in LLM alignment / RLHF / preference optimisation. Builds on 14 of its 31 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 11 Sep 2024.
Builds on
14 of 31 references.
Closest ancestors · 2
Same direction, newest first
- 2023Weak-to-Strong Generalization: Eliciting Strong Capabilities With Weak Supervision14 Dec
- 2020Learning to summarize from human feedback2 Sep
Other references · 12
- 2022Training language models to follow instructions with human feedbackcited by 15,712
- 2019DistilBERT, a distilled version of BERT: smaller, faster, cheaper and lightercited by 4,243
- 2017Explanation in Artificial Intelligence: Insights from the Social Sciencescited by 1,201
- 2018Scalable agent alignment via reward modeling: a research directioncited by 438
- 2018AI safety via debatecited by 384
- 2016Cooperative Inverse Reinforcement Learningcited by 298
- 2017Learning to Learn from Weak Supervision by Full Supervisioncited by 8
- 2023Adapting LLMs for Efficient, Personalized Information Retrieval: Methods and Implicationscited by 8
- 2019Interactive Plan Explicability in Human-Robot Teamingcited by 4
- 2020Order Matters: Generating Progressive Explanations for Planning Tasks in Human-Robot Teamingcited by 4
- 2024SumRecom: A Personalized Summarization Approach by Learning from Users' Feedbackcited by 4
- 2020Experimental Assessment of Human-Robot Teaming for Multi-Step Remote Manipulation with Expert Operatorscited by 3
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Citing papers per year: 2024: 1.
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- 2024Strong and weak alignment of large language models with human values
- 2024Weak-to-Strong Generalization beyond Accuracy: a Pilot Study in Safety, Toxicity, and Legal Reasoning
- 2024A Moral Imperative: The Need for Continual Superalignment of Large Language Models
- 2025Dynamic Alignment for Collective Agency: Toward a Scalable Self-Improving Framework for Open-Ended LLM Alignment
- 2025Decoding Alignment: A Critical Survey of LLM Development Initiatives through Value-setting and Data-centric Lens
- 2025Alignment and Safety in Large Language Models: Safety Mechanisms, Training Paradigms, and Emerging Challenges
- 2023Principle-Driven Self-Alignment of Language Models from Scratch with Minimal Human Supervision
- 2025Extracting and Understanding the Superficial Knowledge in Alignment