Analyzing Open-Source AI
A Third-Way Alignment (3WA) Perspective
A Third-Way Alignment (3WA) Perspective
Based on the Third-Way Alignment research, this framework moves beyond the simple "control vs. autonomy" binary. It proposes a framework for synergistic, codependent partnerships between humans and AI, built on verifiable trust and shared goals. To rank open-source models, we've derived three core 3WA metrics:
How auditable is the model? Architectures like Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) or those with built-in constitutional principles offer clearer insights into decision-making, aligning with 3WA's call for layered explainability.
Can the model's internal state and reasoning be verified, potentially in real-time? This aligns with the concept of "Mutually Verifiable Codependence" and continuous verification dialogues. Models optimized for RAG and tool use score higher here.
Is the model designed for partnership, or just instruction-following? This metric favors models built for shared agency, multi-turn collaboration, and integration into human-AI workflows, reflecting the 3WA partnership paradigm.
This ranking assesses 20 prominent, diversely-sourced open-source models from Hugging Face against the 3WA metrics. The "3WA Score" is a composite of Transparency, Verifiability, and Collaboration scores (max 30). This list explicitly filters out models from state-controlled actors.
This chart breaks down the total 3WA Score for the top 10 models. Note the high "Verifiability" and "Collaboration" scores of Cohere's models (designed for RAG/tool use) and the high "Transparency" of MoE models like Mixtral.
The MVC framework is a core 3WA process. This diagram visualizes that flow, where actions require passage through a verifiable, mutually-agreed-upon process, creating an auditable "chain of trust" instead of blind obedience.
As the Third-Way Alignment papers articulate, true alignment is not a static goal but a dynamic process of co-evolution. While no current model is perfectly "Third-Way Aligned," models prioritizing transparency (MoE), verifiability (RAG/Tools), and collaborative design (Cohere, Mistral) provide the strongest open-source foundations for building the verifiable, synergistic partnerships envisioned by the 3WA framework.
Analysis based on the Third-Way Alignment (3WA) research framework.
This analysis is a qualitative interpretation and does not represent a formal benchmark.