Semantic Fidelity Drift: A Hidden Failure Mode in Large Language Models
The document linked here explores semantic drift: a coined term from the Reality Drift project for the failure mode in large language models where outputs remain factually correct, but the meaning erodes. Accuracy survives, nuance doesn’t. The original intent or philosophy drains away, leaving only a surface shell.
Drift points to something bigger: the collapse of semantic fidelity. Our ability to trust that words still carry their intended purpose. Hallucinations are easy to spot; drift is more insidious because it passes benchmarks while hollowing out meaning.
This working note gathers early sketches, examples, and references (Nature Scientific Reports, Makoy, Reddit recursion study). It also introduces terms like fidelity break. The threshold where facts remain intact but meaning collapses.
Read the full analysis:
- Semantic Drift: The Next Blindspot in AI Evaluation (Substack)
- The Next Blindspot in AI Evaluation (Medium)
- Full documentation (Zenodo) (Figshare)
- X thread introducing Semantic Drift
🔗 Related terms: Synthetic Realness, Optimization Trap, Performativity Spiral, Engineered Authenticity, The Great Flattening, Commodification Creep, Inconvenience Inflation, Filter Fatigue, Reality Drift
🔗 Related frameworks: The Reality Drift Spectrum, The Great Flattening – System Diagram
Note: Offbrandguy did not create the Reality Drift concepts. This site serves as a curated archive to document and share these ideas for those exploring cultural change, emerging language, and the strange ways modern life is shifting.