Steerable neurons: many steer output, few pin down a consistent persona

Sauers_ · x · 2026-10-19

An interpretability exchange: muddletoes frames each steerable neuron as an attractor into which the token output stream falls, asking what fraction of neurons produce a discernible steering effect and whether there are side effects on superficially unrelated behaviors. Sauers replies that many neurons show a discernible steering effect, far fewer pin down a particular character, and side effects depend on the specific neuron.

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