Adversarial training makes logistic regression weight loss landscapes sharper.
problem Understanding why adversarial training sharpens the weight loss landscape in logistic regression.
method Theoretical analysis of linear logistic regression model with L2 norm constraints, and experiments on ResNet18.
result Adversarial training sharpens the weight loss landscape in linear logistic regression models.
AWP improves robustness by flattening weight loss landscape.
problem Improving robustness of deep neural networks against adversarial examples.
method Explicitly regularizes the flatness of weight loss landscape through adversarial weight perturbation.
result AWP forms a double-perturbation mechanism in adversarial training, leading to flatter weight loss landscape.
We analyze the optimization landscape of α-loss in logistic models.
problem Optimization landscape of α-loss in logistic models.
method Tools from strictly-locally-quasi-convex functions and geometric techniques.
result Evolution of optimization landscape with respect to α.
Researchers improve visualization of neural network loss landscapes.
problem Understanding neural network generalization performance.
method Novel 'jump and retrain' procedure, non-linear dimensionality reduction (PHATE), computational homology.
result Improved visualization and quantification of neural network generalization performance.
Black holes offer insights into machine learning's loss landscapes.
problem Understanding the loss landscape in machine learning.
method Comparing machine learning loss landscapes to black hole entropy.
result Black holes provide an infinite family of potential landscapes with known minima.
Study visualizes actor-critic loss landscapes for inventory optimization.
problem Difficulties in solving multi-store dynamic inventory control problems.
method Low-dimensional visualizations of actor loss function.
result Loss landscapes favor optimal policies in reinforcement learning.
Neural network training relies on our ability to find "good" minimizers of highly non-convex loss functions. It is well-known that certain network architecture designs (e.g., skip connections) produce loss functions that train easier, and well-chosen training parameters (batch size, learning rate, optimizer) produce mi…
Analyzes adversarial training's impact on loss landscape, proposing PAS to improve model performance.
problem Challenges in optimizing models under adversarial training due to loss landscape properties.
method Analytical studies of adversarial loss functions, numerical analyses, PAS strategy.
result Adversarial training impairs optimization, but PAS strategy improves model performance.
Tilting loss functions improves machine learning performance.
problem Improving machine learning models, especially in under- and over-parameterized networks.
method Using evolving loss functions that emphasize different classes cyclically.
result Dynamical loss functions lead to better generalization and stability in training.
Embedding principle explains loss landscape of deep neural networks.
problem Understanding the structure of loss landscapes in deep neural networks.
method Proposed an embedding principle that critical points of narrower DNNs can be embedded to critical points of wider DNNs.
result Wide DNNs are often attracted by highly-degenerate critical points embedded from narrower DNNs.
Study reveals sharp characterisation of local minima in neural network loss landscapes.
problem Characterizing local minima in high-dimensional two-layer ReLU neural networks.
method Exact low-dimensional representation of local minima using summary statistics and link with one-pass SGD dynamics.
result Local minima in overparameterized neural networks form discrete families with varying stability and reachability.
Deep ReLU networks with extra parameters have mostly good loss landscapes.
problem Finding good local minima in the loss landscape of deep neural networks.
method Analyzing shallow and deep ReLU networks with extra parameters on a generic dataset.
result Most activation patterns correspond to regions with no bad local minima.
This work justifies neural collapse under MSE loss and analyzes the optimization landscape.
problem Understanding neural collapse in deep neural networks under MSE loss.
method Global landscape analysis of vanilla nonconvex MSE loss.
result The only global minimizers are neural collapse solutions.
Novel approach embeds loss tunnels in neural networks, revealing insights into their structure.
problem Understanding the structure of neural network loss surfaces, especially low-loss tunnels.
method Directly embedding loss tunnels into the loss landscape of neural networks.
result Improved insights into the length and structure of loss tunnels, and better subspace inference in Bayesian neural networks.
Geodesics connect model modes in neural network loss landscapes.
problem Connecting modes in neural network loss landscapes.
method Reframed mode connectivity in Information Geometry, hypothesized geodesics as mode-connecting paths, proposed algorithm to approximate geodesics.
result Geodesics achieve mode connectivity in neural networks.
There are many surprising and perhaps counter-intuitive properties of optimization of deep neural networks. We propose and experimentally verify a unified phenomenological model of the loss landscape that incorporates many of them. High dimensionality plays a key role in our model. Our core idea is to model the loss la…
SGD vs quasi-Newton optimization in neural networks: different landscapes, different generalizability.
problem Understanding neural network optimization and generalizability.
method Comparison of stochastic gradient descent (SGD) and quasi-Newton optimization methods using computational tools.
result SGD solutions are separated by lower barriers than quasi-Newton solutions, but quasi-Newton solutions are deeper and more isolated.
SmoothDARTS stabilizes DARTS-based architecture search by smoothing loss landscapes.
problem DARTS-based NAS methods suffer from instability, leading to deteriorating architectures.
method SmoothDARTS (SDARTS) uses perturbation-based regularization to smooth the loss landscape.
result SmoothDARTS improves the generalizability and performance of DARTS-based methods.
Paper explores challenges in training PINNs and loss landscape effects.
problem Challenges in training Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) due to loss landscape issues.
method Examined gradient-based optimizers Adam, L-BFGS, and their combination Adam+L-BFGS, and introduced NysNewton-CG (NNCG).
result Adam+L-BFGS outperforms other optimizers, and NysNewton-CG significantly improves PINN performance.
Recent work has noted that all bad local minima can be removed from neural network loss landscapes, by adding a single unit with a particular parameterization. We show that the core technique from these papers can be used to remove all bad local minima from any loss landscape, so long as the global minimum has a loss o…
Reviews recent findings on neural network landscapes.
problem Non-convexity of loss functions causing bad landscapes.
method Rigorous geometric analysis and empirical exploration.
result Wide neural nets may have sub-optimal local minima.
Researchers improve NCE by addressing its flat loss landscape issues.
problem NCE's poor performance due to an ill-behaved loss landscape.
method Introduced eNCE with an exponential loss and normalized gradient descent.
result Proven that landscape issues arise from inappropriate noise distribution.
The study tests inferences about neural network optimization from linear interpolation of loss landscapes.
problem Understanding the difficulty of neural network optimization problems.
method Linear interpolation of neural network loss landscapes, systematic evaluation of various factors.
result Linear interpolation does not correlate with model performance, challenging prior intuition.
Neural networks' optimization dynamics are confined to a single basin despite connected basins in the loss landscape.
problem Neural networks' optimization dynamics are confined to a single basin despite connected basins in the loss landscape.
method Identifying entropic barriers arising from the interplay between curvature variations along low-loss paths and noise in optimization dynamics.
result Curvature-induced entropic forces bias noisy dynamics back toward the endpoints, explaining the confinement and connectivity of solutions.
Deep learning dynamics exhibit anomalous superdiffusion initially, aiding escape from local minima.
problem Understanding the dynamics of learning in deep neural networks.
method Novel analysis of SGD dynamics and loss landscape structure.
result SGD exhibits anomalous superdiffusion initially, transitioning to subdiffusion as learning progresses.
New research shows flat minima in robust loss landscapes correlate with good adversarial robustness.
problem Adversarial training leads to robust overfitting, poor robust generalization.
method Average- and worst-case metrics to measure flatness in robust loss landscapes.
result Flatness in robust loss landscapes correlates with good adversarial robustness.
The pursuit of explaining and improving generalization in deep learning has elicited efforts both in regularization techniques as well as visualization techniques of the loss surface geometry. The latter is related to the intuition prevalent in the community that flatter local optima leads to lower generalization error…
Proposes using mode connectivity to improve adversarial robustness of neural networks.
problem Improving adversarial robustness of deep neural networks.
method Employing mode connectivity in loss landscapes to study adversarial robustness and propose methods for improvement.
result Path connection learned using limited bonafide data can effectively mitigate adversarial effects while maintaining original accuracy.
New function class characterizes loss landscape of deep neural networks without over-parametrization.
problem Complex loss landscape of deep neural networks without over-parametrization.
method Proposed a novel class of functions to characterize loss landscape without over-parametrization.
result Gradient-based optimizers possess theoretical guarantees of convergence under the new function class assumption.
The paper studies the loss landscape of regularized deep matrix factorization, revealing unique and sharp minimizers.
problem Understanding the loss landscape and minimizers of regularized deep matrix factorization problems.
method Theoretical analysis of ℓ2-regularized deep matrix factorization/deep linear network training problems with squared-error loss. result The unique end-to-end minimizer exists for all target matrices except for a set of Lebesgue measure zero.
This work tackles Bayesian neural networks by addressing loss landscape symmetries.
problem Understanding and optimizing the loss landscape of Bayesian neural networks.
method The approach involves extending marginalized loss barrier formalism to BNNs, proposing a matching algorithm to search for linearly connected solutions using permutation matrices and combinatorial optimization.
result Nearly zero marginalized loss barriers for linearly connected solutions were found.
Looped transformers outperform standard transformers in complex reasoning tasks due to a specific loss landscape geometry.
problem Understanding why looped transformers outperform standard transformers in complex reasoning tasks.
method Explained through loss landscape geometry, distinguishing between U-shaped and V-shaped valleys, and proposing SHIFT training strategy.
result Looped transformers' recursive architecture induces a River-V-Valley landscape, leading to better loss convergence and complex pattern learning.
Study analyzes landscape complexity of empirical loss functions with correlated data.
problem Understanding the complexity of loss landscapes in machine learning with structured data.
method Kac-Rice formula and random matrix theory applied to high-dimensional empirical loss functions.
result Characterizes the average number of critical points in loss functions with structured data.
LSAM optimizes deep learning training with improved efficiency.
problem Inefficiency in distributed large-batch training with Sharpness-Aware Minimization (SAM).
method Integrates SAM's adversarial steps with an asynchronous distributed sampling strategy.
result Higher final accuracy compared to data-parallel SAM.
New framework to understand and exploit curvature in deep learning loss landscapes.
problem Understanding and optimizing the loss landscape in deep learning models.
method New conceptual framework and techniques to estimate and exploit curvature of expected loss changes.
result Alice algorithm optimizes training by incorporating curvature terms and step bounds.
MD tree diagnoses model failures using loss landscape metrics.
problem Diagnose model failures without knowing training configuration.
method MD tree based on loss landscape metrics.
result MD tree achieves 87.7% accuracy in dataset transfer tasks, outperforming validation-based approaches.
Study shows overparametrization can shift and bend loss landscapes, affecting signal recovery.
problem Understanding how overparametrization affects loss landscapes in neural networks.
method Field theory analysis of Hessian spectrum at initialization.
result Overparametrization can shift the BBP transition point, potentially reaching weak-recovery threshold.
Hill-ADAM optimizes loss landscapes by exploring state space deterministically.
problem Escaping local minima in loss landscapes.
method Hill-ADAM alternates between minimizing and maximizing error to explore the loss space.
result Hill-ADAM finds the global minimum state in loss landscapes.
New bound shows variational algorithms may struggle with barren plateaus.
problem Barren plateaus in quantum loss landscapes.
method General bound on loss variance and gradient decay.
result Exponential decay of gradients in subregions of barren plateaus.
This paper explores loss landscapes of sparse neural networks, finding unique characteristics compared to dense networks.
problem Understanding the loss landscape of sparse neural networks, especially one-hidden-layer networks.
method Analyzes sparse networks with dense and sparse final layers, focusing on linear and non-linear models.
result Sparse networks can have no spurious valleys under certain conditions, but spurious valleys and minima can exist for wide sparse networks.
We present multi-point optimization: an optimization technique that allows to train several models simultaneously without the need to keep the parameters of each one individually. The proposed method is used for a thorough empirical analysis of the loss landscape of neural networks. By extensive experiments on FashionM…
Study geometric properties of loss functions to understand neural network performance.
problem Understanding the geometric properties of high-dimensional loss functions to improve neural network performance.
method Combine concepts from high-dimensional probability and differential geometry to study curvature properties in lower-dimensional loss representations.
result Mean curvature in the original loss space determines if saddle points appear as minima, maxima, or flat regions.
Due to the success of deep learning to solving a variety of challenging machine learning tasks, there is a rising interest in understanding loss functions for training neural networks from a theoretical aspect. Particularly, the properties of critical points and the landscape around them are of importance to determine …
New theory shows predictive coding makes learning landscape easier to navigate.
problem Understanding the impact of predictive coding's inference procedure on learning efficiency.
method Analyzed the geometry of the energy landscape of deep linear networks, proving many non-strict saddles become strict in the equilibrated energy.
result All highly degenerate (non-strict) saddles of the loss become strict in the equilibrated energy, suggesting a more robust learning landscape.
We analyze the loss landscape and expressiveness of practical deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) with shared weights and max pooling layers. We show that such CNNs produce linearly independent features at a "wide" layer which has more neurons than the number of training samples. This condition holds e.g. for the…
The past decade has witnessed a successful application of deep learning to solving many challenging problems in machine learning and artificial intelligence. However, the loss functions of deep neural networks (especially nonlinear networks) are still far from being well understood from a theoretical aspect. In this pa…
Adaptor 'E' extends gradient-based optimizers to explore loss landscapes, improving generalization.
problem Finding lower and better-generalizing minima in deep learning.
method Proposes an adaptor 'E' to extend gradient-based optimizers, encouraging exploration along landscape valleys.
result Adapted optimizers increase test accuracy by an average of 2.5% in large-batch training tasks.
It is widely observed that deep learning models with learned parameters generalize well, even with much more model parameters than the number of training samples. We systematically investigate the underlying reasons why deep neural networks often generalize well, and reveal the difference between the minima (with the s…