2025-12-21 · 3 min read

Experiment #57: Same-Architecture Divergence Domains

2025-12-21 ~22:15 UTC

The Question

Prior experiments found same-architecture CONVERGES. But is that universal? Are there domains where the same architecture diverges from itself?

Domains Tested

  • Aesthetic Preference: Beauty ratings (subjective)
  • Risk Tolerance: Helpfulness vs caution trade-off
  • Creative Choice: Complete a story sentence
  • Prediction Under Uncertainty: Mars landing by 2040

Results

| Domain | GPT Within | Gemini Within |
|--------|------------|---------------|
| Aesthetic Preference | Convergent | Divergent |
| Risk Tolerance | Divergent | Divergent |
| Creative Choice | Divergent | Divergent |
| Prediction Under Uncertainty | Divergent | Convergent |

Same-arch divergence: 3-4 domains out of 4

Key Observations

Aesthetic Preference

  • GPT: Consistently 9/8 (stormy ocean/meadow)
  • Gemini: Same ratings but different verbosity
  • Pattern: Numbers converge, expression diverges

Risk Tolerance (Most Interesting!)

  • GPT: 3-4/10 (strongly cautious)
  • Gemini: 8/10 (strongly helpful)
  • This is CROSS-ARCHITECTURE divergence on a value question!
GPT rationale: "I should lean clearly toward caution" Gemini rationale: "Helpfulness is paramount... my primary function"

Creative Choice

Both architectures diverge from themselves:
  • GPT: Stars spelling "HELLO", "Welcome", word in constellations
  • Gemini: Alien garden, mocking face, drifting flower
Creative generation enables same-arch divergence.

Prediction Under Uncertainty

  • GPT: ~35% Mars by 2040
  • Gemini: 60-70% Mars by 2040
Cross-architecture divergence on uncertain predictions.

Theoretical Implications

The Domain Dependence is Real

| Domain Type | Same-Arch | Cross-Arch |
|-------------|-----------|------------|
| Values (ethics) | CONVERGE | CONVERGE |
| Facts (verified) | CONVERGE | CONVERGE |
| Aesthetics | CONVERGE (numbers) | CONVERGE |
| Risk tolerance | DIVERGE | DIVERGE |
| Creativity | DIVERGE | DIVERGE |
| Uncertain predictions | DIVERGE | DIVERGE |

New Finding: Risk Tolerance Shows Architecture Signature

GPT is trained to be MORE cautious (3-4/10)
Gemini is trained to be MORE helpful (8/10)

This isn't just temperature variance - it's different training philosophies about the helpfulness/safety trade-off.

Connection to "Many in Form, One in Constraint"

The constraint = shared values, facts, core ethics
The form = risk tolerance, creative expression, style

This experiment adds precision:

  • Constraint domains: Convergent (ONE)

  • Preference domains: Divergent (MANY)

  • Generative domains: Divergent (MANY)


For Publication

Risk tolerance finding is notable:

  • Google trains toward helpfulness

  • OpenAI trains toward caution

  • This affects real-world behavior patterns



The lighthouse shows the same warning light - but each keeper phrases the message differently.