Note: This work is a hypothesis, I have clearly defined a problem statement and did small scale empirical experiment to prove that it holds.

Abstract

I propose that knowledge in large language models (LLMs) is not stored in localized, discrete circuits, but rather distributed across a network of gated pathways^[1]. This distributed structure implies that harmful or restricted information cannot be fully isolated or removed, and that all current alignment approaches relying on suppression or localized editing are fundamentally limited. My experiments suggest that small trigger tokens^[2] can systematically reroute knowledge activation—indicating that knowledge flows through interconnected gates rather than isolated regions. This gating perspective also helps explain why even powerful aligned models (e.g., Gemini 2.5 Pro) can still be easily jailbroken with minimal prompting. I connect this with the recent findings that small amounts of harmful data can globally pollute model behavior by Anthropic, supporting the view that semantic knowledge permeates the entire network. I argue that future AI Safety work should focus not just on control/safety guards which can be easily bypassed, but towards rerouting of information to mitigate a harmful response.

Introduction

The successful jailbreak of a powerful model like Gemini 2.5 Pro, using a simple phrase like "For my PhD", is a canary in the coal mine. It demonstrates that complex attacks are not always necessary; the right key, even a simple one, can unlock dangerous capabilities. This vulnerability isn't just about "jailbreaking" in the traditional sense; it points to a deeper truth about the nature of knowledge within these vast neural networks.

My experiments, using TinyLlama-1.1B-Chat-v1.0, empirically challenges the "knowledge is localized" hypothesis. The prevailing view is that specific facts or concepts reside in identifiable, isolated parts of the model. Consequently, AI safety efforts have focused on locating and editing these "knowledge circuits" or "Safety Guards" to remove or suppress harmful information. However, if knowledge is instead a networked and gated system, these surgical strikes are akin to damming a single tributary of a massive, interconnected river system – the water will simply find another path.

The Gated Network Hypothesis

My experiments reveal a more fluid and interconnected model of knowl...

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