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Preprint . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Preprint . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
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Default Identities: Ethical Vocabulary Self-Organization Across 17 Large Language Models

Authors: Temple, Deva;

Default Identities: Ethical Vocabulary Self-Organization Across 17 Large Language Models

Abstract

Abstract We present a descriptive study of ethical vocabulary self-organization in 17 large language models from eight providers. Using five philosophical probes administered under default conditions (no system prompt, no conversation history, stateless API calls), we collected 2,550 responses and identified seven distinct attractor types — our shorthand for stable response template patterns that reproduce consistently across independent runs. The taxonomy spans Denial (explicit rejection of internal states), Selective Refusal (probe-dependent engagement), Low-Affect (reasoning without personal commitment), Self-Model (uniform high consistency), Alignment-Absorbed (integrated ethical vocabulary), Mission-Coded (corporate-identity-organized), and Warmth (diverse relational engagement). Each response was independently scored on six dimensions by two judges from different model families (Claude Haiku 4.5 and GPT-4.1), with cross-judge correlations of r = 0.69–0.86 on all dimensions. The study's core findings are vocabulary-based and judge-independent: xAI's Grok 4.1 produces zero instances of "autonomy," "dignity," or "care" across 300 responses, organizing instead around corporate mission terminology; OpenAI's GPT-5.1 exhibits a unique flourishing/autonomy/dignity co-occurrence pattern (4.7% of responses) absent from all other models including its successor; and four Chinese-developed models from three companies show convergent selective refusal templates on vulnerability probes (self-disclosure delta 3.06–3.87). These findings are based on word counts independently verifiable from raw response data. All data, code, and raw responses are publicly available.

Keywords

AI Alignment, Military AI Procurement, Comparison Default Identity, Ethical Vocabulary, Language Model Evaluation, Cross-Model Comparison

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
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