This paper introduces a new way to train large language models (LLMs) to "think" before they respond to instructions. Imagine the LLM as a student taking a test. Instead of rushing to answer a question, the model first writes down its thoughts and plans, like figuring out the steps to solve a problem. This "thinking" happens internally, like in our brains, and the user doesn't see it. The researchers call this method "Thought Preference Optimization" (TPO). TPO works by having the LLM practice on many different instructions. It tries different "thought" processes and then a judge model helps it pick the best ones based on the quality of the final answers. This way, the model learns which ways of thinking lead to better responses. Surprisingly, this method doesn't just help with math and logic problems, but also with tasks like writing, translation, and even marketing.

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2410.10630