The Initialization Determines Whether In-Context Learning Is Gradient Descent

arXiv — cs.LGFriday, December 5, 2025 at 5:00:00 AM
  • Recent research has explored the initialization's role in determining whether in-context learning (ICL) in large language models (LLMs) behaves like gradient descent (GD). The study challenges previous assumptions by demonstrating that multi-head linear self-attention (LSA) can approximate GD under more realistic conditions, particularly with non-zero Gaussian prior means in linear regression formulations of ICL.
  • This development is significant as it enhances the understanding of ICL mechanisms in LLMs, potentially leading to improved model performance and more effective applications in various domains, including natural language processing and machine learning.
  • The findings contribute to ongoing discussions about the optimization capabilities of LLMs, particularly in relation to their efficiency and adaptability in processing complex data. This aligns with emerging frameworks aimed at enhancing LLMs' performance, such as adaptive context compression and training-free policy violation detection, highlighting the evolving landscape of AI research.
— via World Pulse Now AI Editorial System

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