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LLMs perform hidden computations on filler tokens, researchers find

Researchers have discovered that advanced large language models like DeepSeek V3 and Kimi K2 perform complex computations using seemingly content-free filler tokens, such as dots or counting sequences. This hidden computation, which bypasses standard behavioral oversight methods like chain-of-thought, can be decoded from the model's internal states with high accuracy. The findings suggest that monitorability of LLMs depends on analyzing their full computational trace, not just their surface-level outputs. AI

IMPACT Reveals a new method for monitoring LLM behavior, potentially improving safety and interpretability.

RANK_REASON Research paper detailing a novel finding about LLM computation. [lever_c_demoted from research: ic=1 ai=1.0]

Read on arXiv cs.AI →

AI-generated summary · Google Gemini · from 1 sources. How we write summaries →

LLMs perform hidden computations on filler tokens, researchers find

COVERAGE [1]

  1. arXiv cs.AI TIER_1 English(EN) · Kaley Brauer, Claudio Mayrink Verdun, Samuel Marks ·

    Reading Between the Dots: Decoding Hidden Computation across Filler Tokens

    arXiv:2607.03502v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: Frontier LLMs can perform multi-step reasoning over content-free filler tokens like dots or counting sequences, producing correct answers with no visible chain-of-thought (CoT). This is a limit case for behavioral oversight, where…