{
 "schema_version": 1,
 "generated": "2026-10-20",
 "id": "p-e-w-heretic--study-directional-ablation-internals",
 "repo": "p-e-w/heretic",
 "repo_url": "https://github.com/p-e-w/heretic",
 "repo_slug": "p-e-w-heretic",
 "title": "Trace how refusal directions are ablated across layers",
 "page_title": "How to trace how refusal directions are ablated across layers with Heretic",
 "summary": "Run Heretic from a source clone to study its per-layer residual directions and ablation kernel settings.",
 "who": "A researcher or ML engineer who wants to understand how abliteration works and how its parameters are chosen.",
 "problem": "Abliteration papers and tools are hard to inspect without seeing the actual directions and weight kernels used.",
 "outcome": "A local source checkout you can run and read, with the optimized ablation parameters for a model you chose.",
 "steps": [
  "Clone the repository with `git clone https://github.com/p-e-w/heretic`, then change into the cloned folder. (inferred, check the README)",
  "Install uv, as linked from the README, and make sure your environment uses Python 3.10 or newer.",
  "Run `uv run heretic <model-id>` from inside the repo, which uses the locked dependency versions. (inferred, check the README)",
  "Read the README sections on residual directions, direction_index, and the ablation weight kernel while the run progresses.",
  "Record the chosen values for max_weight, min_weight, and direction_index, then compare them with the original abliteration papers cited."
 ],
 "agent_prompt": "Clone the p-e-w/heretic repo, run `uv run heretic <model-id>` from the repo root, and wait for the optimization to finish. Return the chosen direction_index and the per-component weight parameters, and verify that each value falls within the ranges the run reports.",
 "agents": [
  "any"
 ],
 "difficulty": "Advanced",
 "time": "1 hour 30 minutes",
 "basis": "readme",
 "caveat": "The README describes the method at a high level, so reading the source is needed to confirm how the ranges and interpolation are implemented.",
 "category": "Research",
 "tags": [
  "Research"
 ],
 "lang": "python",
 "requirements": [
  "Python 3.10 or newer",
  "PyTorch 2.2 or newer, installed for your hardware",
  "A GPU with enough VRAM for the model you pick (the README cites an RTX 3090 and an RTX 5090)",
  "Access to the target model's files, such as a Hugging Face model ID"
 ],
 "risk": "dual-use",
 "seen_in_the_wild": false,
 "mentioned_publicly": false,
 "risks": [
  {
   "tag": "reverse-engineering",
   "notice": "Studying the ablation internals means working with a model whose safety alignment is removed, so keep such outputs out of public release unless your use is cleared."
  }
 ],
 "best": false,
 "score": 0.7,
 "evidence": [],
 "url": "https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/p-e-w-heretic/study-directional-ablation-internals/",
 "md": "https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/p-e-w-heretic/study-directional-ablation-internals/index.md",
 "disclaimer": "Deduped lists open-source repositories that belong to other people. We do not own, maintain, audit, or vouch for any of them, and a repo appearing here is not an endorsement or a safety check. The use cases, steps, and prompts are written by AI and may be incomplete, outdated, or just wrong. Where a use case is marked \"Seen in the wild\", we link to public posts where someone described something similar, but we have not verified those posts and the use case itself is still our AI's own write-up. Use all of this at your own risk. Only run code, commands, or agents on systems and accounts you are authorized to use, and read the code and every command before you run it, especially anything that touches credentials, files, or the network. Nothing here is professional, security, legal, or financial advice. All trademarks and project names belong to their respective owners, and their use here does not imply affiliation. Content is provided as is, without warranties of any kind. Found a mistake, a safety problem, or something you want removed? Email hello@dedupedai.com and we will look at it promptly.",
 "api": "https://dedupedai.com/api/v1/usecases/p-e-w-heretic--study-directional-ablation-internals.json",
 "api_version": "v1"
}