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 Uncertainty


The Shape of Learning Curves: a Review

arXiv.org Artificial Intelligence

Learning curves provide insight into the dependence of a learner's generalization performance on the training set size. This important tool can be used for model selection, to predict the effect of more training data, and to reduce the computational complexity of model training and hyperparameter tuning. This review recounts the origins of the term, provides a formal definition of the learning curve, and briefly covers basics such as its estimation. Our main contribution is a comprehensive overview of the literature regarding the shape of learning curves. We discuss empirical and theoretical evidence that supports well-behaved curves that often have the shape of a power law or an exponential. We consider the learning curves of Gaussian processes, the complex shapes they can display, and the factors influencing them. We draw specific attention to examples of learning curves that are ill-behaved, showing worse learning performance with more training data. To wrap up, we point out various open problems that warrant deeper empirical and theoretical investigation. All in all, our review underscores that learning curves are surprisingly diverse and no universal model can be identified.


Uncertainty Estimation for Computed Tomography with a Linearised Deep Image Prior

arXiv.org Artificial Intelligence

Existing deep-learning based tomographic image reconstruction methods do not provide accurate estimates of reconstruction uncertainty, hindering their real-world deployment. This paper develops a method, termed as the linearised deep image prior (DIP), to estimate the uncertainty associated with reconstructions produced by the DIP with total variation regularisation (TV). Specifically, we endow the DIP with conjugate Gaussian-linear model type error-bars computed from a local linearisation of the neural network around its optimised parameters. To preserve conjugacy, we approximate the TV regulariser with a Gaussian surrogate. This approach provides pixel-wise uncertainty estimates and a marginal likelihood objective for hyperparameter optimisation. We demonstrate the method on synthetic data and real-measured high-resolution 2D $\mu$CT data, and show that it provides superior calibration of uncertainty estimates relative to previous probabilistic formulations of the DIP. Our code is available at https://github.com/educating-dip/bayes_dip.


A Bayesian Framework on Asymmetric Mixture of Factor Analyser

arXiv.org Artificial Intelligence

Mixture of factor analyzer (MFA) model is an efficient model for the analysis of high dimensional data through which the factor-analyzer technique based on the covariance matrices reducing the number of free parameters. The model also provides an important methodology to determine latent groups in data. There are several pieces of research to extend the model based on the asymmetrical and/or with outlier datasets with some known computational limitations that have been examined in frequentist cases. In this paper, an MFA model with a rich and flexible class of skew normal (unrestricted) generalized hyperbolic (called SUNGH) distributions along with a Bayesian structure with several computational benefits have been introduced. The SUNGH family provides considerable flexibility to model skewness in different directions as well as allowing for heavy tailed data. There are several desirable properties in the structure of the SUNGH family, including, an analytically flexible density which leads to easing up the computation applied for the estimation of parameters. Considering factor analysis models, the SUNGH family also allows for skewness and heavy tails for both the error component and factor scores. In the present study, the advantages of using this family of distributions have been discussed and the suitable efficiency of the introduced MFA model using real data examples and simulation has been demonstrated.


Deconfounded Imitation Learning

arXiv.org Artificial Intelligence

Standard imitation learning can fail when the expert demonstrators have different sensory inputs than the imitating agent. This is because partial observability gives rise to hidden confounders in the causal graph. We break down the space of confounded imitation learning problems and identify three settings with different data requirements in which the correct imitation policy can be identified. We then introduce an algorithm for deconfounded imitation learning, which trains an inference model jointly with a latent-conditional policy. At test time, the agent alternates between updating its belief over the latent and acting under the belief. We show in theory and practice that this algorithm converges to the correct interventional policy, solves the confounding issue, and can under certain assumptions achieve an asymptotically optimal imitation performance.


Modified EDAS Method Based on Cumulative Prospect Theory for Multiple Attributes Group Decision Making with Interval-valued Intuitionistic Fuzzy Information

arXiv.org Artificial Intelligence

The Interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IVIFSs) based on the intuitionistic fuzzy sets combines the classical decision method is in its research and application is attracting attention. After comparative analysis, there are multiple classical methods with IVIFSs information have been applied into many practical issues. In this paper, we extended the classical EDAS method based on cumulative prospect theory (CPT) considering the decision makers (DMs) psychological factor under IVIFSs. Taking the fuzzy and uncertain character of the IVIFSs and the psychological preference into consideration, the original EDAS method based on the CPT under IVIFSs (IVIF-CPT-MABAC) method is built for MAGDM issues. Meanwhile, information entropy method is used to evaluate the attribute weight. Finally, a numerical example for project selection of green technology venture capital has been given and some comparisons is used to illustrate advantages of IVIF-CPT-MABAC method and some comparison analysis and sensitivity analysis are applied to prove this new methods effectiveness and stability.


Sparse Gaussian Process Hyperparameters: Optimize or Integrate?

arXiv.org Artificial Intelligence

The kernel function and its hyperparameters are the central model selection choice in a Gaussian process [Rasmussen and Williams, 2006]. Typically, the hyperparameters of the kernel are chosen by maximising the marginal likelihood, an approach known as Type-II maximum likelihood (ML-II). However, ML-II does not account for hyperparameter uncertainty, and it is well-known that this can lead to severely biased estimates and an underestimation of predictive uncertainty. While there are several works which employ a fully Bayesian characterisation of GPs, relatively few propose such approaches for the sparse GPs paradigm. In this work we propose an algorithm for sparse Gaussian process regression which leverages MCMC to sample from the hyperparameter posterior within the variational inducing point framework of [Titsias, 2009]. This work is closely related to Hensman et al. [2015b], but side-steps the need to sample the inducing points, thereby significantly improving sampling efficiency in the Gaussian likelihood case. We compare this scheme against natural baselines in literature along with stochastic variational GPs (SVGPs) along with an extensive computational analysis.


Flows for Flows: Training Normalizing Flows Between Arbitrary Distributions with Maximum Likelihood Estimation

arXiv.org Artificial Intelligence

Normalizing flows are constructed from a base distribution with a known density and a diffeomorphism with a tractable Jacobian. The base density of a normalizing flow can be parameterised by a different normalizing flow, thus allowing maps to be found between arbitrary distributions. We demonstrate and explore the utility of this approach and show it is particularly interesting in the case of conditional normalizing flows and for introducing optimal transport constraints on maps that are constructed using normalizing flows.


Impact Learning: A Learning Method from Features Impact and Competition

arXiv.org Artificial Intelligence

Machine learning is the study of computer algorithms that can automatically improve based on data and experience. Machine learning algorithms build a model from sample data, called training data, to make predictions or judgments without being explicitly programmed to do so. A variety of wellknown machine learning algorithms have been developed for use in the field of computer science to analyze data. This paper introduced a new machine learning algorithm called impact learning. Impact learning is a supervised learning algorithm that can be consolidated in both classification and regression problems. It can furthermore manifest its superiority in analyzing competitive data. This algorithm is remarkable for learning from the competitive situation and the competition comes from the effects of autonomous features. It is prepared by the impacts of the highlights from the intrinsic rate of natural increase (RNI). We, moreover, manifest the prevalence of the impact learning over the conventional machine learning algorithm.


A Bayesian Semiparametric Method For Estimating Causal Quantile Effects

arXiv.org Machine Learning

Standard causal inference characterizes treatment effect through averages, but the counterfactual distributions could be different in not only the central tendency but also spread and shape. To provide a comprehensive evaluation of treatment effects, we focus on estimating quantile treatment effects (QTEs). Existing methods that invert a nonsmooth estimator of the cumulative distribution functions forbid inference on probability density functions (PDFs), but PDFs can reveal more nuanced characteristics of the counterfactual distributions. We adopt a semiparametric conditional distribution regression model that allows inference on any functionals of counterfactual distributions, including PDFs and multiple QTEs. To account for the observational nature of the data and ensure an efficient model, we adjust for a double balancing score that augments the propensity score with individual covariates. We provide a Bayesian estimation framework that appropriately propagates modeling uncertainty. We show via simulations that the use of double balancing score for confounding adjustment improves performance over adjusting for any single score alone, and the proposed semiparametric model estimates QTEs more accurately than other semiparametric methods. We apply the proposed method to the North Carolina birth weight dataset to analyze the effect of maternal smoking on infant's birth weight.


Uncertainty Quantification for Rule-Based Models

arXiv.org Artificial Intelligence

Rule-based classification models described in the language of logic directly predict boolean values, rather than modeling a probability and translating it into a prediction as done in statistical models. The vast majority of existing uncertainty quantification approaches rely on models providing continuous output not available to rule-based models. In this work, we propose an uncertainty quantification framework in the form of a meta-model that takes any binary classifier with binary output as a black box and estimates the prediction accuracy of that base model at a given input along with a level of confidence on that estimation. The confidence is based on how well that input region is explored and is designed to work in any OOD scenario. We demonstrate the usefulness of this uncertainty model by building an abstaining classifier powered by it and observing its performance in various scenarios.