MetaSC: Test-Time Safety Specification Optimization for Language Models
We propose a novel dynamic safety framework that optimizes language model
(LM) safety reasoning at inference time without modifying model weights.
Building on recent advances in self-critique methods, our approach leverages a
meta-critique mechanism that iteratively updates safety prompts-termed
specifications-to drive the critique and revision process adaptively. This
test-time optimization not only improves performance against adversarial
jailbreak requests but also in diverse general safety-related tasks, such as
avoiding moral harm or pursuing honest responses. Our empirical evaluations
across several language models demonstrate that dynamically optimized safety
prompts yield significantly higher safety scores compared to fixed system
prompts and static self-critique defenses. Code to be released at
https://github.com/vicgalle/meta-self-critique.git .
67ad9577b469222e0df18134
Víctor Gallego
extracted_confirmed
2025-06-16T05:42:54.400Z
5fad8602b8423e1d80b8a965
https://cdn-avatars.huggingface.co/v1/production/uploads/5fad8602b8423e1d80b8a965/tRqTwcZmrGka8c1vFq2wX.jpeg
Victor Gallego
user
vicgalle
MetaSC: Test-Time Safety Specification Optimization for Language Models
We propose a novel dynamic safety framework that optimizes language model
(LM) safety reasoning at inference time without modifying model weights.
Building on recent advances in self-critique methods, our approach leverages a
meta-critique mechanism that iteratively updates safety prompts-termed
specifications-to drive the critique and revision process adaptively. This
test-time optimization not only improves performance against adversarial
jailbreak requests but also in diverse general safety-related tasks, such as
avoiding moral harm or pursuing honest responses. Our empirical evaluations
across several language models demonstrate that dynamically optimized safety
prompts yield significantly higher safety scores compared to fixed system
prompts and static self-critique defenses. Code to be released at
https://github.com/vicgalle/meta-self-critique.git .
A dynamic safety framework uses meta-critique to iteratively update safety prompts, enhancing language model safety during inference without altering model weights.
language model self-critique methods meta-critique mechanism safety prompts specifications critique revision process adversarial jailbreak requests moral harm honest responses safety scores fixed system prompts static self-critique defenses