The paper studies early stopping methods in linear contextual bandits.
problem Minimizing in-experiment regret and conducting robust post-experiment inferences in contextual bandits.
method The study proposes early stopping rules based on the Opportunity Cost and Threshold Method, using variances of estimators to quantify upper regret bounds.
result The proposed method provides a systematic approach to minimize in-experiment regret and conduct robust post-experiment inferences.
Optimizes staggered treatment rollouts to minimize cost and error.
problem Efficiently scheduling treatment initiation times for staggered rollouts.
method Non-adaptive and adaptive experimental designs, including a near-optimal solution for non-adaptive cases and a new algorithm for adaptive cases.
result Reduces experiment cost by over 50% compared to static design benchmarks.
Unified model optimizes experiment performance and reduces duration.
problem Balancing reward maximization and experiment termination.
method Unified model that considers both within-experiment and post-experiment outcomes.
result Familiar algorithms can optimize a broad class of objectives with proper parameter adjustment.
Statistical inference for misspecified contextual bandits is challenging due to adaptivity issues.
problem Statistical inference for misspecified contextual bandits
method Inverse-probability-weighted Z-estimation framework
result Consistent and asymptotically normal estimator with sandwich variance estimator
DTS improves robustness of bandit algorithms in nonstationary environments.
problem Brittle behavior of multi-armed bandit algorithms in nonstationary exogenous factors.
method Deconfounded Thompson Sampling (DTS) that projects population-level performance while controlling for context.
result DTS provides resilience to exogenous variation and balances exploration and exploitation.
Users in social networks whose posts stay at the top of their followers'{} feeds the longest time are more likely to be noticed. Can we design an online algorithm to help them decide when to post to stay at the top? In this paper, we address this question as a novel optimal control problem for jump stochastic different…
We conduct a large-scale, systematic study to evaluate the existing evaluation methods for natural language generation in the context of generating online product reviews. We compare human-based evaluators with a variety of automated evaluation procedures, including discriminative evaluators that measure how well machi…
New method optimizes multiple objectives in A/B testing for AI and clinical trials.
problem Minimizing cumulative regret, maximizing CATE, and ensuring differential privacy in large-scale experiments.
method ConSE and DP-ConSE algorithms for sequential segmentation and elimination, achieving Pareto-optimal frontier.
result Privacy comes 'for free' in our framework, with only asymptotically negligible costs to regret and accuracy.
Inference models are a key component in scaling variational inference to deep latent variable models, most notably as encoder networks in variational auto-encoders (VAEs). By replacing conventional optimization-based inference with a learned model, inference is amortized over data examples and therefore more computatio…
Approximate probabilistic inference algorithms are central to many fields. Examples include sequential Monte Carlo inference in robotics, variational inference in machine learning, and Markov chain Monte Carlo inference in statistics. A key problem faced by practitioners is measuring the accuracy of an approximate infe…
This work frames active inference through control as inference, offering robust control algorithms.
problem Active inference framework lacks practical sensorimotor control algorithms.
method Frame active inference through control as inference, presenting trajectory optimization as inference.
result AI may be framed as partially-observed CaI when the cost function is defined in observation states.
Simformer uses transformer models to perform flexible Bayesian inference.
problem Current simulation-based inference methods are inflexible and require fixed priors.
method Trains a probabilistic diffusion model with transformer architectures.
result Outperforms state-of-the-art methods on various benchmarks.
PE-SVI reduces SVI inference complexity by finding a suitable start point.
problem Complex posterior inference in graphical models leads to suboptimal learning.
method PE-SVI uses a pseudo-encoded start point to reduce gradient steps and step sizes.
result PE-SVI achieves the same ELBo objective as SVI with less than 1% of the required steps.
Improved Bayesian inference for neuronal ensemble inference reduces computational cost.
problem Efficient inference of neuronal ensembles from activity data.
method Modified MCMC algorithm with simulated annealing for hyperparameter control.
result Our method reduces computational cost while maintaining or improving inference accuracy.
Adding metadata abruptly changes network inference outcomes.
problem Understanding the impact of metadata on network inference.
method Investigated the effect of metadata on network inference problems.
result Metadata causes abrupt transitions in inference outcomes.
SNVI combines likelihood estimation with variational inference for efficient Bayesian inference.
problem Bayesian inference in models with intractable likelihoods.
method Sequential Neural Variational Inference (SNVI) that combines likelihood-estimation with variational inference.
result SNVI is more computationally efficient than previous algorithms without sacrificing accuracy.
Paper introduces a diagnostic for approximate inference methods.
problem Estimating errors in probabilistic inference algorithms, especially for approximate methods.
method Repeatedly simulate datasets from the prior and perform inference on each, estimating a symmetric KL-divergence.
result A diagnostic for approximate inference methods can be estimated using symmetric KL-divergence.
Recent efforts on combining deep models with probabilistic graphical models are promising in providing flexible models that are also easy to interpret. We propose a variational message-passing algorithm for variational inference in such models. We make three contributions. First, we propose structured inference network…
Probabilistic inference procedures are usually coded painstakingly from scratch, for each target model and each inference algorithm. We reduce this effort by generating inference procedures from models automatically. We make this code generation modular by decomposing inference algorithms into reusable program-to-progr…
A new method for safer statistical inference after predictions.
problem Statistical inference with pseudo-outcomes from machine learning predictions.
method Prediction De-Correlated Inference (PDC) framework.
result PDC consistently outperforms supervised methods and can adapt to any model.
Paper proposes Walsh-Hadamard Variational Inference for efficient approximate inference in large models.
problem Over-regularization in variational inference for large models.
method Walsh-Hadamard factorization strategies to reduce parameterization, accelerate computations, and increase posterior expressiveness.
result Efficient approximate inference achieved in over-parameterized models.
Bayesian interpolants explain neural network inferences concisely.
problem Understanding neural network inferences.
method Adapting Craig interpolants for neural networks.
result Produces precise, understandable explanations.
ptype infers data types robustly in real-world data.
problem Type inference fails with missing data and anomalies.
method Probabilistic robust type inference method.
result Outperforms existing methods.
Variational inference provides a powerful tool for approximate probabilistic in- ference on complex, structured models. Typical variational inference methods, however, require to use inference networks with computationally tractable proba- bility density functions. This largely limits the design and implementation of v…
New comparison shows differences in how value is incorporated in AIF and CAI.
problem Clarifying the relationship between Active Inference and Control-as-Inference.
method Formal comparison of AIF and CAI frameworks.
result Primary difference is how value is incorporated into generative models.
Paper shows how to infer hidden states in neural networks analytically.
problem Intractability of Bayesian inference for neural networks.
method Leverage tractable approximate Gaussian inference (TAGI) for hidden states inference.
result Demonstrates inference of hidden states through constraints for various applications.
Variational Inference shows promise for Bayesian GARCH model estimation.
problem Bayesian estimation of GARCH-family models using Monte Carlo sampling.
method Variational Inference as an alternative to Monte Carlo sampling.
result Variational Inference is a reliable and competitive method for Bayesian learning in GARCH-like models.
Post-ADC inference corrects bias in statistical inference after active data collection.
problem Bias in inference after active data collection.
method Post-ADC inference framework that corrects bias from both ADC process and data-driven target construction.
result Valid inference for data collected by SMBO methods like GP-UCB and TPE.
A new particle algorithm improves mean-field variational inference.
problem Efficiently approximating nonparametric posterior distributions in machine learning.
method Introduces PArticle VI (PAVI), a novel particle-based algorithm for nonparametric mean-field approximation.
result Obtains non-asymptotic error bounds for PArticle VI, providing the first end-to-end guarantee for particle-based MFVI.
Meta-learn Bayesian inference for task-specific BNNs using amortised inference.
problem Efficiently learning Bayesian inference for small-scale probabilistic meta-learning.
method Replace global inducing points with actual data to create a set of approximate likelihoods, train a meta-model to learn these parameters across related datasets.
result Meta-learned inference can be applied to task-specific BNNs, improving efficiency and scalability.
Bayesian method infers contextual bandit policies robustly.
problem Inference of contextual bandit policies in small sample sizes.
method Empirical likelihood for Bayesian inference.
result Accurate uncertainty measurements and policy comparison.
Exact selective inference with randomization for Gaussian regression models.
problem Exact selective inference in Gaussian regression models.
method Introduces a pivot for exact selective inference with randomization, reducing the problem to a bivariate truncated Gaussian distribution.
result Our pivot leads to exact inference and produces narrower confidence intervals than related methods.
Recent work used importance sampling ideas for better variational bounds on likelihoods. We clarify the applicability of these ideas to pure probabilistic inference, by showing the resulting Importance Weighted Variational Inference (IWVI) technique is an instance of augmented variational inference, thus identifying th…
BOED improves SBI by optimizing experimental designs and inference functions.
problem Efficiently use experimental resources for better inference on complex models.
method Link mutual information bounds between SBI and BOED, optimizing both design and inference.
result BOED improves inference in real-world simulators in epidemiology and biology.
Valid inference from data and predictions.
problem Valid statistical inference with machine learning predictions.
method Framework for valid inference using machine learning predictions.
result Valid confidence intervals without assumptions on predictions.
EFI automates statistical inference for big data.
problem Statistical inference for model parameters based on observations.
method EFI uses stochastic gradient Markov chain Monte Carlo and sparse deep neural networks.
result EFI provides higher fidelity in parameter estimation and automates the inference process.
Derives time-averaged active inference from control principles.
problem Finite-horizon or discounted-surprise problems in active inference.
method Derives infinite-horizon, average-surprise active inference from optimal control principles.
result Unified objective functional for sensorimotor control.
UA-SABI uses surrogates to speed up Bayesian inference for expensive models.
problem Inference for computationally expensive models is slow and uncertain.
method Combines surrogate modeling with Amortized Bayesian Inference (ABI) to propagate uncertainties.
result Reliable, fast, and repeated Bayesian inference for expensive models is achieved.
Deep learning enhances active inference for dynamic state spaces.
problem Limited applicability of active inference to continuous state spaces.
method Use of deep learning to approximate probability distributions for active inference.
result Active inference can be applied to continuous state spaces.
Adversarial robustness of amortized Bayesian inference is studied, showing it can be improved.
problem Adversarial robustness of amortized Bayesian inference.
method Simulation-based estimation, regularization scheme based on Fisher information.
result Adversarial robustness can be improved with a regularization scheme.
Probabilistic models can handle causal inference without special tools.
problem Confusion over necessary tools for causal inference.
method Demonstrated through concrete examples that causal questions can be answered using standard probabilistic models.
result Causal questions can be addressed using standard probabilistic modelling and inference.
New method uses EKI for efficient Bayesian inference in high-dimensional problems.
problem Efficient inference for high-dimensional posterior distributions in physics-informed neural networks.
method Ensemble Kalman Inversion (EKI) for high-dimensional posterior inference.
result EKI-based inference provides comparable uncertainty estimates to HMC-based methods but with reduced computational cost.
VISA improves inference efficiency for complex models.
problem Efficient approximate inference in computationally intensive models.
method Sequential sample-average approximations within a trust region.
result VISA achieves comparable accuracy with computational savings.
Predictive e-values enhance statistical inference across various tasks.
problem Insufficient data limits traditional statistical inference.
method Apply prediction-powered inference to e-values.
result Every e-value-based inference has a prediction-powered counterpart.
Improves neural relational inference for dynamic multi-agent trajectories.
problem Limited accuracy of NRI in short output sequences for relational inference in multi-agent trajectories.
method Proposes DYnamic multi-AgentRelational Inference (DYARI) model to handle changing interactions over time.
result DYARI model outperforms NRI in dynamic relational inference tasks.
Approximate inference algorithm is one of the fundamental research fields in machine learning. The two dominant theoretical inference frameworks in machine learning are variational inference (VI) and Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC). However, because of the fundamental limitation in the theory, it is very challenging to…
Noise-aware DP inference improves accuracy for complex models.
problem Inaccurate results and biases in DP inference for complex models.
method Noise-aware stochastic gradient variational inference.
result Accurate coverages and predictive probabilities for complex models.
This paper analyzes how differential privacy and data skewness affect membership inference attacks.
problem Membership inference attacks on privately trained models.
method Developed MPLens system to evaluate membership inference vulnerability.
result Membership inference risk is higher with skewed training data and differential privacy has trade-offs.