Fine-tuning, post-training, and alignment
Choose an AI improvement based on the failure you observed.
Reviewed: 2026-10-03
Source-based teaching example · Fictional data
Narration: Microsoft Mark · locally synthesized

00:00:00.000 — What you will learn

Choose an AI improvement based on the failure you observed.

Visual description:
Choose an AI improvement based on the failure you observed.

00:00:06.458 — The idea · 1

Different failures need different fixes. Missing current information calls for evidence access. Arithmetic may need a calculator.

Visual description:
Different failures need different fixes. Missing current information calls for evidence access. Arithmetic may need a calculator.

00:00:18.375 — The idea · 2

Repeated style problems may call for better instructions or model adaptation.

Visual description:
Repeated style problems may call for better instructions or model adaptation.

00:00:26.208 — One useful term

Fine-tuning. Further training that changes model parameters using selected training examples.

Visual description:
Further training that changes model parameters using selected training examples.

00:00:35.500 — A worked example

The example separates stale policy, arithmetic and stable writing style. There is no required ladder from prompting to search to tuning. Choose the option that addresses the actual problem.

Visual description:
The example separates stale policy, arithmetic and stable writing style. There is no required ladder from prompting to search to tuning. Choose the option that addresses the actual problem.

00:00:50.625 — Your turn to think

Will fine-tuning automatically supply today’s policy? Pause and decide before continuing.

Visual description:
Will fine-tuning automatically supply today’s policy?
Pause the video if you need more time.

00:01:07.500 — Why this answer works

No. Establish the needed current evidence. Test any change on cases not used for fitting, including capabilities you need to preserve.

Visual description:
No. Establish the needed current evidence. Test any change on cases not used for fitting, including capabilities you need to preserve.

00:01:19.958 — Check 1

Identify the failure before selecting a fix.

Visual description:
Identify the failure before selecting a fix.

00:01:25.958 — Check 2

Check data rights and coverage.

Visual description:
Check data rights and coverage.

00:01:30.875 — Check 3

Test remaining capabilities and recovery.

Visual description:
Test remaining capabilities and recovery.

00:01:36.500 — Now try a different case

Open the lesson and try its different practice case. Use every check in the full task. Watching alone does not mark the lesson complete.

Visual description:
Open the lesson
Try the new case
Check and revise
The full task and its requirements are in the linked lesson.