Supervised Fine-Tuning Needs to Unlock the Potential of Token Priority
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Abstract (arXiv)
The transition from fitting empirical data to achieving true human utility is fundamentally constrained by a granularity mismatch, where fine-grained autoregressive generation is often supervised by coarse or uniform signals. This position paper advocates Token Priority as the essential bridge, formalizing Supervised Fine-Tuning (SFT) not as simple optimization but as a precise distribution reshaping process that aligns raw data with the ideal alignment manifold. We analyze recent breakthroughs through this unified lens, categorizing them into two distinct regimes: Positive Priority for noise filtration and Signed Priority for toxic modes unlearning. We revisit existing progress and limitations, identify key challenges, and suggest directions for future research.
Key facts. No citing papers in the map yet (data through 7 Oct 2026). Builds on 71 of its 83 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 1 Feb 2026.
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References · 71
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