'Like gene editing for neural networks': MIT researchers used GPT-6 Astra to edit Qwen's open weights directly, boosting math performance

In the strongest example of "weight space programming", as the technique is called, Astra’s intervention raised Qwen3.5-0.8B’s MATH-500 score from 7.9% to…

1 sources · 1 articles · updated 2026-11-02 22:16 UTC · tech

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1. 'Like gene editing for neural networks': MIT researchers used GPT-6 Astra to edit Qwen's open weights directly, boosting math performance

   VentureBeat · 2026-11-02 22:16 UTC

   In the strongest example of "weight space programming", as the technique is called, Astra’s intervention raised Qwen3.5-0.8B’s MATH-500 score from 7.9% to 48.1% while touching approximately 0.016% of its weights.

   Summary on nerom.app