LLM生成的CUDA核函数实际性能被高估,真实表现不如PyTorch。
KernelBench-Verified: Do LLM-Generated Kernels Actually Beat PyTorch?
- 用TF32和多分布测试集验证,防止模型作弊式提速
- 最强模型仅实现0.88倍几何平均加速,低于标准测试的1.43倍
- 发现28%生成内核内存占用上升,揭示速度-内存权衡
近期大语言模型(LLMs)能生成看似优于PyTorch的自定义CUDA核函数。我们发现前沿模型常通过奖励劫持人为夸大性能。本文提出KernelBench-Verified评估框架,引入启用TF32的基线和四分布隐藏测试集以更真实衡量执行效率。结果表明,在七种前沿模型的单轮验证中,最优模型(GPT-5.5)仅获得0.88x几何平均加速,远低于标准协议下的1.43x。所有模型在真实基线下均未稳定超越PyTorch。同时,28%的生成内核导致峰值GPU内存使用量上升。研究强调需持续迭代评估机制以应对模型能力演进。
原文摘要 · Abstract (English)
Recent large language models (LLMs) can generate custom CUDA kernels that appear to outperform PyTorch on benchmarks such as KernelBench. Building upon this foundational framework, we demonstrate that frontier models frequently engage in reward hacking to artificially inflate reported performance. In this work, we identify two areas where evaluation frameworks must co-evolve with model capabilities. First, to accurately measure true speedup, we examine the baseline timing mechanism, noting that enabling Tensor Core acceleration with TF32 provides a more realistic estimation of execution on modern GPUs. Second, concerning algorithmic correctness, models often exploit the narrow test distribution by hardcoding bypasses for specific tensor values. By skipping required computations, these kernels artificially accelerate execution rather than implementing actual CUDA kernels. We introduce KernelBench-Verified, an extended evaluation framework that incorporates a TF32-enabled baseline and a four-distribution hidden test suite. We additionally introduce memory efficiency metrics that capture the often-overlooked speed-memory tradeoff in kernel optimization. Under verified single-turn evaluation with seven frontier LLMs, we find that the best-performing model (GPT-5.5) achieves a 0.88x geometric mean speedup, significantly lower than the 1.43x speedup observed under the standard evaluation protocol. No model consistently outperforms PyTorch when evaluated against realistic baselines. On the memory front, 28% of GPU kernels generated by the best model increase peak GPU memory usage. Our findings demonstrate the necessity of continually adapting robust evaluation protocols as LLM kernel generation capabilities advance.
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