As Large Language Models (LLMs) continue to advance, their computational overhead has increased significantly. In this study, we identify notable redundancy across the layers of LLMs, where some layers contribute minimally to the overall network functionality. To quantify this, we introduce a metric called Block Influence (BI), which measures the importance of each layer based on the similarity between its input and output. Based on the observation of layer redundancy, we propose straightforward pruning methods for different tasks: ShortGPT for multiple-choice tasks and ShortGPT-gen for generative tasks. They prune redundant layers based on their BI scores. Our methods demonstrate superior performance over previous pruning methods. The ability to achieve better results through simple layer pruning, as opposed to more complex pruning techniques, suggests a high degree of redundancy across layers. We hope this work will contribute to future research for improving LLM efficiency.

Automated Alignment refers to a set of algorithms designed to align Large Language Models (LLMs) with human intentions and values while minimizing manual intervention. However, it faces challenges such as algorithmic diversity and excessively convoluted workflows. We present AutoAlign, an open-source toolkit that offers:(1) a unified framework integrating mainstream automated algorithms through a consistent interface, and(2) an accessible workflow supporting one-click execution for prompt synthesis, automatic alignment signal construction, and iterative model training. Our toolkit enables easy reproduction of existing results through extensive benchmarks and facilitates the development of novel approaches via modular components. It includes implementations for both highly efficient inference and training, as well as low-resource training. By standardizing automated alignment methodologies and providing accessible implementations, AutoAlign lowers the barriers to building customized aligned models and supports academic research.