When Less is More: 8-bit Quantization Improves Continual Learning in Large Language Models

arXiv — cs.LGTuesday, December 23, 2025 at 5:00:00 AM
  • A recent study published on arXiv investigates the effects of 8-bit quantization on continual learning in large language models, revealing that models quantized to INT4 can outperform FP16 in final task accuracy, particularly in code generation. Minimal replay buffers significantly enhance knowledge retention across various precision levels.
  • This development is crucial as it addresses the challenge of catastrophic forgetting in continual learning, suggesting that quantization can improve model efficiency without sacrificing performance.
  • The findings contribute to ongoing discussions about optimizing large language models, highlighting the balance between model efficiency and retention of learned knowledge, while also connecting to broader themes of parameter-efficient techniques and the ethical implications of AI learning processes.
— via World Pulse Now AI Editorial System

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