--- title: "Hermes 4 family | Ethical Stack" url: https://ethicalstack.ai/models/hermes-4/ catalog_version: f6baff2119d0e9158520da7fbe4232011dac79f25bd08757436d7a1dbd593db2 --- # Hermes 4 family Instruction following, reasoning, tool use, and structured output. Hermes 4.3 36B is a separate checkpoint from Hermes 4 70B and inherits a different base/license path. Canonical profile: https://ethicalstack.ai/models/hermes-4/ Scope: Nous Research Hermes 4 releases, including Hermes 4.3 36B fine-tuned from ByteDance Seed-OSS-36B-Base and the published Hermes 4 70B checkpoint; licenses differ by checkpoint. Published overall: 3.4; 5/6 dimensions rated. Round the equal-weight mean of available numerical ratings to one decimal; require at least four of six for an overall score. BDS status stays outside the mean; for eligible profiles, a boycott target caps the final score at 2/10 and a pressure target subtracts one point (minimum 1). Not listed and not checked do not adjust the score. ## Energy practices Finding: 2/10 Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/models/hermes-4/#energy This is a practices and disclosure score for the named release, not a request-level energy or emissions estimate. Reason: 1 + 1 reporting + 0 electricity + 0 controls = 2/10. This grades documented practices and transparency. Argument: The official release provides a self-hosted runtime path but no measured electricity, water, or emissions. This score rewards a stated operating boundary; it does not infer impact from missing measurements. Type: argument; confidence: low Scope (dimension): Nous Research Hermes 4 releases, including Hermes 4.3 36B fine-tuned from ByteDance Seed-OSS-36B-Base and the published Hermes 4 70B checkpoint; licenses differ by checkpoint. Research reviewed: not recorded; evidence date: not recorded Unknowns: No per-request electricity, emissions, water, serving mix, or independently reviewed footprint is established in the cited sources. ```json { "method": "practices-transparency-v1", "scope": "Nous Research Hermes 4 releases, including Hermes 4.3 36B fine-tuned from ByteDance Seed-OSS-36B-Base and the published Hermes 4 70B checkpoint; licenses differ by checkpoint.", "components": { "disclosure": { "score": 1, "reason": "The official release materials provide downloadable weights and a local serving path for Hermes 4; this establishes an operating boundary, not a measured footprint.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4.3-36B", "https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4-70B", "https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.18255", "https://huggingface.co/ByteDance-Seed/Seed-OSS-36B-Base" ] }, "electricity": { "score": 0, "reason": "No model-specific clean-electricity sourcing or hourly power evidence is published in the reviewed sources; zero means unestablished, not dirty electricity.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4.3-36B", "https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4-70B", "https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.18255", "https://huggingface.co/ByteDance-Seed/Seed-OSS-36B-Base" ] }, "demand": { "score": 0, "reason": "No model-specific documented control or measured physical resource reduction is established by the reviewed release materials. Public weights or smaller variants alone do not prove reduced resource use.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4.3-36B", "https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4-70B", "https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.18255", "https://huggingface.co/ByteDance-Seed/Seed-OSS-36B-Base" ] } }, "actualImpactMeasured": false } ``` - [Official model card or model release repository](https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4.3-36B) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [Official model card or model release repository](https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4-70B) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [Developer technical report](https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.18255) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [Official model card or model release repository](https://huggingface.co/ByteDance-Seed/Seed-OSS-36B-Base) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) ## Training data Finding: 2/10 Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/models/hermes-4/#training-rights The release provides some training-process information, but not a complete permission ledger for inherited and later training data. Reason: 1 base + 1 source transparency + 0 documented permission + 0 creator controls = 2/10. Weight licensing is not treated as corpus permission. Argument: Nous publishes its base-model relationship and a technical report, but the reviewed sources do not give a complete source-and-permission ledger for inherited pretraining or later fine-tuning data. A public weight license governs use of those weights; it is not proof that every training source was permitted. Type: evidence; confidence: low Scope (dimension): Nous Research Hermes 4 releases, including Hermes 4.3 36B fine-tuned from ByteDance Seed-OSS-36B-Base and the published Hermes 4 70B checkpoint; licenses differ by checkpoint. Research reviewed: not recorded; evidence date: not recorded Unknowns: Complete source lists, source-specific rights, inherited-base provenance, synthetic-data generation permissions, and creator removal or retraining remedies remain unestablished. ```json { "method": "training-rights-evidence-v1", "scope": "Nous Research Hermes 4 releases, including Hermes 4.3 36B fine-tuned from ByteDance Seed-OSS-36B-Base and the published Hermes 4 70B checkpoint; licenses differ by checkpoint.", "components": { "provenance": { "score": 1, "reason": "Nous publishes its base-model relationship and a technical report, but the reviewed sources do not give a complete source-and-permission ledger for inherited pretraining or later fine-tuning data.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4.3-36B", "https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4-70B", "https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.18255", "https://huggingface.co/ByteDance-Seed/Seed-OSS-36B-Base" ] }, "permissions": { "score": 0, "reason": "A model-weight license governs the released checkpoint, not automatically the training corpus. The reviewed release does not establish affirmative rights for all inherited and post-training material.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4.3-36B", "https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4-70B", "https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.18255", "https://huggingface.co/ByteDance-Seed/Seed-OSS-36B-Base" ] }, "creatorControls": { "score": 0, "reason": "The reviewed model documentation does not establish a corpus-wide creator permission, opt-out, removal, or retraining remedy for this model family.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4.3-36B", "https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4-70B", "https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.18255", "https://huggingface.co/ByteDance-Seed/Seed-OSS-36B-Base" ] } }, "routeDependency": null, "modelReference": null } ``` - [Official model card or model release repository](https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4.3-36B) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [Official model card or model release repository](https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4-70B) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [Developer technical report](https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.18255) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [Official model card or model release repository](https://huggingface.co/ByteDance-Seed/Seed-OSS-36B-Base) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) ## Your data & privacy Finding: Not enough evidence Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/models/hermes-4/#privacy Privacy depends on where these released weights are run; the model family has no single prompt-retention or training route. Reason: Depends on the selected inference host; do not transfer the model license to a hosting provider’s privacy practices. Argument: The official release makes weights available for separate deployments, but it does not define one inference host or retention policy for every user. Local and hosted operators may handle prompts differently, so a single numerical privacy grade would misstate this model-level entry. Type: argument; confidence: high Scope (profile): Nous Research Hermes 4 releases, including Hermes 4.3 36B fine-tuned from ByteDance Seed-OSS-36B-Base and the published Hermes 4 70B checkpoint; licenses differ by checkpoint. Research reviewed: not recorded; evidence date: not recorded Unknowns: The user-selected host, region, telemetry, logging, extensions, and provider training terms are outside the checkpoint release and require a route-specific review. - [Official model card or model release repository](https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4.3-36B) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [Official model card or model release repository](https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4-70B) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [Developer technical report](https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.18255) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [Official model card or model release repository](https://huggingface.co/ByteDance-Seed/Seed-OSS-36B-Base) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) ## Openness Finding: 5/10 Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/models/hermes-4/#openness Weights and a technical report are public, but Hermes 4.3 is based on Seed-OSS while Hermes 4 70B has a distinct Llama license. Check the specific checkpoint and inherited terms; a public weight file is not a full reproducibility record. Reason: Hermes 4.3 36B: Apache 2.0 on its card; Hermes 4 70B carries the Llama 3 license. Verify each checkpoint separately. Model weights and documentation are available, but limitations described above reduce source-level reproducibility. Argument: Weights and a technical report are public, but Hermes 4.3 is based on Seed-OSS while Hermes 4 70B has a distinct Llama license. Check the specific checkpoint and inherited terms; a public weight file is not a full reproducibility record. This openness rating concerns artifacts and reproducibility only; it does not assess whether the original training corpus was authorized. Type: argument; confidence: medium Scope (profile): Nous Research Hermes 4 releases, including Hermes 4.3 36B fine-tuned from ByteDance Seed-OSS-36B-Base and the published Hermes 4 70B checkpoint; licenses differ by checkpoint. Research reviewed: not recorded; evidence date: not recorded Unknowns: The checked release and license apply to the named checkpoints; sibling variants, future versions, and the underlying corpus may have different terms or disclosures. - [Official model card or model release repository](https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4.3-36B) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [Official model card or model release repository](https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4-70B) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [Developer technical report](https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.18255) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [Official model card or model release repository](https://huggingface.co/ByteDance-Seed/Seed-OSS-36B-Base) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) ## Worker protections Finding: 1/10 Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/models/hermes-4/#labour No model-specific worker safeguards are established for Nous Research in the reviewed model sources. Reason: 1 base + 0 conditions + 0 worker voice/remedy + 0 evidence/follow-through = 1/10; this is a disclosure finding, not proof of abuse. Argument: The model release pages describe weights and technical properties, not conditions for employees, data annotators, evaluators, moderators, or infrastructure contractors. This is a source-bounded disclosure gap, not evidence of mistreatment. Type: argument; confidence: low Scope (profile): Nous Research Hermes 4 releases, including Hermes 4.3 36B fine-tuned from ByteDance Seed-OSS-36B-Base and the published Hermes 4 70B checkpoint; licenses differ by checkpoint. Research reviewed: not recorded; evidence date: not recorded Unknowns: Worker locations, pay and conditions, supplier coverage, voice mechanisms, labor audits, and remediation outcomes are not established by these model-release sources. ```json { "method": "worker-safeguards-evidence-v1", "entity": "models/hermes-4", "company": "", "scope": "The named developer or operator", "components": { "conditions": { "score": 0, "reason": "No worker-level conditions or supply-chain safeguards are established in this model-family source set. This is a disclosure gap, not proof of mistreatment.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4.3-36B", "https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4-70B", "https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.18255", "https://huggingface.co/ByteDance-Seed/Seed-OSS-36B-Base" ] }, "voice": { "score": 0, "reason": "The model sources do not document a worker voice or remedy mechanism for data, evaluation, or infrastructure labor.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4.3-36B", "https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4-70B", "https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.18255", "https://huggingface.co/ByteDance-Seed/Seed-OSS-36B-Base" ] }, "assurance": { "score": 0, "reason": "No independent worker-level audit or remediation outcome is established in the reviewed model sources.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4.3-36B", "https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4-70B", "https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.18255", "https://huggingface.co/ByteDance-Seed/Seed-OSS-36B-Base" ] } }, "disclosureLimited": true } ``` - [Official model card or model release repository](https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4.3-36B) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [Official model card or model release repository](https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4-70B) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [Developer technical report](https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.18255) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [Official model card or model release repository](https://huggingface.co/ByteDance-Seed/Seed-OSS-36B-Base) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) ## Military ties Finding: 7/10 Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/models/hermes-4/#military-contracts No military relationship or release-specific safeguards are established for Nous Research in the reviewed model sources. Reason: 7 base + 0 safeguard adjustment = 7/10 (0 of 9 safeguard points; every 3 adds 1). No military relationship was established in the cited sources. This ranks above known defense ties without claiming a verified clean record. Argument: The official model card and release materials identify the model and license but do not provide a military customer, contract, deployment, or model-specific enforcement record. This source gap does not establish that none exists. Type: argument; confidence: low Scope (profile): Nous Research Hermes 4 releases, including Hermes 4.3 36B fine-tuned from ByteDance Seed-OSS-36B-Base and the published Hermes 4 70B checkpoint; licenses differ by checkpoint. Research reviewed: not recorded; evidence date: not recorded Unknowns: Undisclosed contracts, customer-specific deployment, end-use restrictions, and independent compliance outcomes are not established by this model-family review. ```json { "method": "military-ties-priority-v2", "entity": "models/hermes-4", "company": "", "scope": "The named developer or operator", "components": { "restrictions": { "score": 0, "reason": "The cited model license and release documents do not establish a model-specific binding ban on military or intelligence use. This is limited to this source set.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4.3-36B", "https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4-70B", "https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.18255", "https://huggingface.co/ByteDance-Seed/Seed-OSS-36B-Base" ] }, "oversight": { "score": 0, "reason": "No military-specific monitoring, enforcement, or remedy mechanism is established in the reviewed model materials.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4.3-36B", "https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4-70B", "https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.18255", "https://huggingface.co/ByteDance-Seed/Seed-OSS-36B-Base" ] }, "transparency": { "score": 0, "reason": "The model materials do not disclose a model-specific military relationship or military-use record. This absence does not establish no relationship.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4.3-36B", "https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4-70B", "https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.18255", "https://huggingface.co/ByteDance-Seed/Seed-OSS-36B-Base" ] } }, "disclosureLimited": true, "relationship": "not-established", "relationshipReason": "The reviewed model-release sources do not establish a defense relationship; absence of disclosure is not a clean-record finding.", "score": 7, "baseScore": 7, "safeguardPoints": 0, "safeguardAdjustment": 0, "rawScore": 7, "cap": null } ``` - [Official model card or model release repository](https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4.3-36B) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [Official model card or model release repository](https://huggingface.co/NousResearch/Hermes-4-70B) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [Developer technical report](https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.18255) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [Official model card or model release repository](https://huggingface.co/ByteDance-Seed/Seed-OSS-36B-Base) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) ## BDS targets Finding: Not listed Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/models/hermes-4/#israel-palestine Nous Research is not named in the two official BNC campaign lists checked. This is a limited list check, not BDS approval. Reason: Campaign category, excluded from numerical scoring. Argument: The official BNC consumer boycott/pressure guide and No Tech campaign page do not name Nous Research among their current targets. BDS uses selective campaigns, so absence from these lists is neutral and does not establish a clean record or approval. Type: argument; confidence: medium Scope (profile): Nous Research Hermes 4 releases, including Hermes 4.3 36B fine-tuned from ByteDance Seed-OSS-36B-Base and the published Hermes 4 70B checkpoint; licenses differ by checkpoint. Research reviewed: not recorded; evidence date: not recorded Unknowns: This check covers only named targets in the two cited BNC campaigns; it does not cover all BDS campaigns, local groups, investments, suppliers, or downstream hosts. Lists and ownership may change. - [BNC official campaign target list](https://bdsmovement.net/Guide-to-BDS-Boycott) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [BNC official campaign target list](https://bdsmovement.net/no-tech-oppression-apartheid-or-genocide) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) ## Reading the evidence - Assessments are provisional editorial judgments. Cite the profile and the underlying sources, and retain confidence, scope and unknowns. - Unknown, not-applicable and model-dependent are different states. Missing evidence does not establish good or bad conduct. - Company-level evidence does not establish use of a particular product or model. Account plan, model, host and route can change an assessment. - Energy scores describe documented practices and transparency, not measured request emissions. Zero component points can mean an evidence gap. - Published overall scores require at least four of six numerical dimensions. Preserve coverage and BDS adjustments; BDS itself is categorical. - No named BDS target found is limited to the reviewed campaign sources and is not approval. Personalized priorities do not change the published overall score. - Review and source-check dates describe the research, not this deployment. Fetch current primary sources when the decision requires current verification. Methodology: https://ethicalstack.ai/methodology/