feedback loops
A phenomenon in AI models where training on their own outputs without proper safeguards can cause small inaccuracies to compound, leading to responses that spiral away from factual grounding, similar to human delusional loops.
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8/16/2025, 2:37:23 AM
entitydetail.last_updated
8/16/2025, 2:38:39 AM
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8/16/2025, 2:38:39 AM
Summary
Feedback loops describe a system where outputs are fed back as inputs, creating a circular chain of cause and effect that complicates simple causal reasoning and necessitates a holistic system analysis. In business, feedback specifically refers to the transmission of evaluative or corrective information back to its source. These loops are crucial for system self-regulation and adaptation, categorized into reinforcing (positive) loops that amplify changes, and balancing (negative) loops that promote stability. Feedback loops are identified as a technical cause of "AI Psychosis" when interacting with large language models and are also relevant in understanding the erosion of America's social fabric and the dynamics of the Venture Capital model.
Referenced in 1 Document
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
Type
Balancing Loop (Negative Feedback Loop): Counteracts changes, promoting stability and equilibrium within a system by working to bring it back to a desired state or set point.
Field
Business Management
Definition
A mechanism where the outputs of a system are routed back as inputs, forming a circuit of cause and effect that influences future actions and makes simple causal reasoning difficult.
Key Stages
Input creation, input capture and storage, input analysis, and decision-making based on gained insight.
Core Function
Enables systems to self-regulate, adapt, and optimize performance over time.
Business Definition
The transmission of evaluative or corrective information about an action, event, or process to its original or controlling source.
Application Example (AI)
Technical cause of 'AI Psychosis,' a delusional state triggered by interactions with Large Language Models (LLMs).
Application Example (Biology)
Helps organisms maintain balance, such as internal temperature regulation and healing in the human body.
Application Example (Business)
Crucial for continual improvement, adapting to changing environments, and impacting customer satisfaction, retention, and loyalty.
Application Example (Venture Capital)
Understanding and leveraging feedback is crucial for success.
Wikipedia
View on WikipediaFeedback
Feedback occurs when outputs of a system are routed back as inputs as part of a chain of cause and effect that forms a circuit or loop. The system can then be said to feed back into itself. The notion of cause-and-effect has to be handled carefully when applied to feedback systems: Simple causal reasoning about a feedback system is difficult because the first system influences the second and second system influences the first, leading to a circular argument. This makes reasoning based upon cause and effect tricky, and it is necessary to analyze the system as a whole. As provided by Webster, feedback in business is the transmission of evaluative or corrective information about an action, event, or process to the original or controlling source.
Web Search Results
- Feedback Loops - Complex Systems Frameworks Collection
F T I ## Complex Systems Frameworks Collection # Feedback Loops Feedback loops are systems where the output of an action is fed back into the system as input, influencing future actions. They play a crucial role in understanding how systems behave over time, revealing patterns of stability or change. Feedback loops can be categorized into two main types: reinforcing loops and balancing loops, each with distinct characteristics and effects on the system. [...] Reinforcing loops, also known as positive feedback loops, amplify changes within a system, leading to exponential growth or decline and causing instability if not controlled. This type of loop can result in rapid escalation or runaway behavior. In the image, an increase in the "number of people running" raises the "level of panic," which in turn causes more people to run, creating a cycle that escalates rapidly. Such loops can be beneficial in contexts like economic growth or viral marketing [...] Balancing loops, or negative feedback loops, counteract changes, promoting stability and equilibrium within a system. They work to bring the system back to a desired state or set point, acting as a self-correcting mechanism. In the image, feeling "hungry" leads to "eating lunch," which reduces hunger and thus decreases the drive to eat more, maintaining balance. These loops are essential for systems to remain stable, such as in homeostasis in biological systems, supply and demand in economics,
- Feedback Loop: Definition, Examples, and Steps for Optimization
A Feedback Loop is a mechanism that helps a system self-regulate and adapt by using feedback. This cycle involves taking action, monitoring the results, analyzing the outcomes, and then making adjustments based on that feedback before retaking action. This continual process ensures systems can adjust and optimize their performance over time. [...] A Feedback Loop is a process in which information about the output of a system, process, or activity is returned to the input to modify or reinforce the actions being taken. What is a Feedback Loop? [...] Employing Feedback Loops is crucial for several reasons. They foster continual improvement, ensuring that systems or processes remain effective and efficient over time. They also help adapt to changing environments or conditions, making them indispensable in dynamic scenarios. In businesses, feedback loops directly impact customer satisfaction, leading to better retention and loyalty.
- What is a feedback loop? | Definition from TechTarget
Follow: of the system's output is used as input for future operations. Each feedback loop has a minimum of four stages. During the first stage, input is created. During the second stage, input is captured and stored. During the third stage, input is analyzed and during the fourth stage, the insight gained from analysis is used to make decisions. Feedback loops can be applied in various contexts, including customer feedback, employee feedback, climate systems and biological processes. [...] Feedback loops are an important aspect of closed loop control systems. They can be applied to a variety of different fields, including the following: [...] Biology. In biology, feedback loops help organisms maintain balance in different life cycles. More specifically, within the human body, feedback loops include internal temperature regulation and healing. Computer science.In computer science, a feedback loop refers to an endless loop of instructions that can be given to a computer that has no final step.
- Feedback loops in system thinking | by Myroslava Zelenska - Medium
Actually, why I have started this topic at all. Feedback loops are a powerful tool in the manager’s hands. Let me remind you that the initial change in the variable (process, etc) stimulates its further change in the original direction. Thus, if we succeed in changing the variable in the direction we need (reinforcing loop), we can start the process throughout the whole context, and since the variables enter several contexts (aka contours) at once, we can launch the same series of cascade [...] Yes, I promised to talk about IT. Let’s look at an example of how this works for us. So, in the ITproject life cycle, there are four typical feedback loops (examples taken from _Diti Das “Systems Thinking — A Process For Problem Solving in SDLC”_). Product development loop (Balancing Loop), Product Management Loop (Reinforcing Loop), Employee Productivity Loop (Balancing Loop), and Product Maintenance Loop (Reinforcing Loop).
- Mental Model: Feedback Loops - Farnam Street
From Graph Algebra by Courtney Brown: > Feedback loops are typically used to accomplish regulation and control. A feedback loop is like an input, but its origin is from within the system itself, not from outside the system. In many systems, the output reenters the system as another input. This is exactly what happens with a microphone and speakers when the sound from the speakers feed back into the microphone, often causing a loud squeal. [...] Practice activities are worthless without useful feedback about the results. Feedback loops are part of the Farnam Street Latticework of Mental Models. Read Next Next Post:Five books on Holding Power to Account Heather Brooke, author of Your Right To Know: A Citizen’s Guide to the Freedom of Information Act, offers five picks on holding power … Discover What You’re Missing [...] > Every action creates an equal and opposite reaction. When reactions loop back to affect themselves, a feedback loop is created. All real-world systems are composed of many such interacting feedback loops — animals, machines, businesses, and ecosystems, to name a few. There are two types of feedback loops: positive and negative. Positive feedback amplifies system output, resulting in growth or decline. Negative feedback dampers output, stabilizes the system around an equilibrium point. > >