arXiv:2506.08543cs.CV2025-06

揭示大模型中语义方向如何从输入开始稳定传递到深层

Spectral Principal Paths: A Spectral Perspective on Linear Representation Formation in LLMs

  • 从输入空间出发,通过谱主路径逐步提炼线性语义方向
  • 理论证明方向稳定性依赖谱间隙与上下文无关性条件
  • 为可控、透明的人工智能提供可解释的结构基础

高层表示已成为提升人工智能透明度与可控性的核心,研究焦点从单个神经元或电路转向与人类可理解概念对齐的结构化语义方向。尽管线性表示假设(LRH)认为此类方向会在表示中出现,但其起源及为何在各层间趋于稳定仍不明确。为此,我们提出输入空间线性假设,认为对齐概念的方向起源于输入空间,并随网络深度增加而持续保持。随后,我们构建了谱主路径(SPP)框架,形式化深度网络如何沿谱主方向逐步提炼线性表示。基于Wedin sinΘ扰动定理,我们提供了SPP的严格稳定性保证,识别出可检验的条件:谱间隙和上下文无关性,二者共同确保层间方向的保留。通过连接理论分析与实证证据,本工作揭示了大模型中线性表示形成的谱视角,暗示其在概念级可控、鲁棒且一致的公平性与透明性方法中的潜在应用。

原文摘要 · Abstract (English)

High-level representations have become a central focus in enhancing AI transparency and control, shifting attention from individual neurons or circuits to structured semantic directions that align with human-interpretable concepts. While the Linear Representation Hypothesis (LRH) suggests that such directions emerge in representations, it remains unclear how these representations originate and why they become increasingly stable across layers. To solve this issue, we introduce the Input-Space Linearity Hypothesis, positing that concept-aligned directions originate in the input space and are steadily maintained with increasing depth. We then propose the Spectral Principal Path (SPP) framework, which formalizes how deep networks progressively distill linear representations along the spectral principal directions. We provide rigorous stability guarantees for the SPP based on the Wedin $\sinΘ$ perturbation theorem, identifying testable conditions, including spectral gap and context incoherence, that jointly ensure layer-wise directional preservation. By bridging theoretical analysis with empirical evidence, this work identifies a spectral view of how linear representations arise in LLMs, and suggests potential implications for concept-level controllable, robust, and coherent approaches to fairness and transparency in modern AI systems.

大模型解释语义方向谱分析表示学习

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