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arXiv research

A locally-built, LLM-digested index of recent arXiv papers in quant finance, geometry/topology, and statistical ML — keyword search served straight from SQLite on this machine.

168,657 papers · 148 categories

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90181271361 · Jun 202019922001200920172026
48 results for uncertainty exploration

Proposes a method to enhance exploration in RL using temporal difference uncertainties.

problem Challenges in estimating uncertainty in non-tabular reinforcement learning settings.
method Estimates uncertainty over value function using temporal difference errors and incorporates it as an intrinsic reward.
result Demonstrates improved exploration in various tasks, including Deep Sea and Atari 2600 environments.

Efficient exploration is necessary to achieve good sample efficiency for reinforcement learning in general. From small, tabular settings such as gridworlds to large, continuous and sparse reward settings such as robotic object manipulation tasks, exploration through adding an uncertainty bonus to the reward function ha…

2019-06-18abs ↗pdf ↗

This paper studies directed exploration for reinforcement learning agents by tracking uncertainty about the value of each available action. We identify two sources of uncertainty that are relevant for exploration. The first originates from limited data (parametric uncertainty), while the second originates from the dist…

2017-11-29abs ↗pdf ↗

New method quantifies uncertainty in reinforcement learning models.

problem Quantifying uncertainty over expected cumulative rewards in reinforcement learning.
method Proposes a new uncertainty Bellman equation to more accurately estimate value function variance.
result Our method converges to the true posterior variance over values and improves sample-efficiency.

A simple uncertainty measure improves deep bandit performance.

problem Efficient exploration in complex environments with deep neural networks.
method Sample Average Uncertainty (SAU) for estimating outcome uncertainty directly.
result SAU matches the uncertainty of Thompson Sampling and its regret bounds.

Efficient exploration improves large language model performance with fewer queries.

problem Improving large language model performance with fewer human feedback queries.
method Sequentially generates queries, fits a reward model to feedback, uses double Thompson sampling with epistemic neural network uncertainty.
result Efficient exploration enables high performance with far fewer queries.

REN addresses uncertainty in user feedbacks for better recommendation systems.

problem Recurrent neural networks focus solely on item relevance, neglecting diverse item exploration.
method Proposes REN, a new type of recurrent neural network that balances relevance and exploration while accounting for representation uncertainty.
result REN achieves satisfactory long-term rewards on synthetic and real-world recommendation datasets, outperforming state-of-the-art models.

New algorithm improves graph-based active learning by identifying unexplored regions.

problem Improving graph-based active learning by identifying unexplored regions.
method Poisson Reweighted Laplacian Uncertainty Sampling (PWLL) with a diagonal perturbation.
result PWLL effectively identifies unexplored regions in graph-based data.

BO algorithms improve binary and preferential optimization by distinguishing between types of uncertainty.

problem Optimizing expensive functions with binary or pairwise comparisons.
method Proposed new acquisition functions distinguishing between epistemic and aleatoric uncertainty.
result New acquisition functions outperform state-of-the-art heuristics in binary and preferential BO.

We consider an agent's uncertainty about its environment and the problem of generalizing this uncertainty across observations. Specifically, we focus on the problem of exploration in non-tabular reinforcement learning. Drawing inspiration from the intrinsic motivation literature, we use density models to measure uncert…

2016-06-06abs ↗pdf ↗

New approach uses autoregressive models to explore and quantify uncertainty in decision-making.

problem Quantifying and exploring uncertainty in online decision-making.
method Reformulates uncertainty as missing future outcomes, training autoregressive models for next-outcome prediction.
result Establishes a reduction from online learning to offline next-outcome prediction, controlling Bayesian regret by sequence prediction loss.

Thompson sampling is an efficient algorithm for sequential decision making, which exploits the posterior uncertainty to address the exploration-exploitation dilemma. There has been significant recent interest in integrating Bayesian neural networks into Thompson sampling. Most of these methods rely on global variable u…

2019-10-30abs ↗pdf ↗

This paper tackles uncertainty in deep learning for construction of prediction intervals.

problem Deep learning models lack the ability to provide reliable prediction intervals for high-risk tasks.
method The authors design a special loss function to learn both aleatory and epistemic uncertainties without requiring uncertainty labels.
result The method constructs prediction intervals that are competitive with state-of-the-art methods on publicly available datasets.

Proposes H-UCRL for efficient model-based RL with sublinear regret.

problem Greedy policy exploration in model-based RL ignores epistemic uncertainty.
method Reparameterizes plausible models, hallucinates control, augments input space, solves with greedy planners.
result H-UCRL achieves provably sublinear regret for Gaussian Process models.

We study the problem of safe learning and exploration in sequential control problems. The goal is to safely collect data samples from operating in an environment, in order to learn to achieve a challenging control goal (e.g., an agile maneuver close to a boundary). A central challenge in this setting is how to quantify…

2019-06-13abs ↗pdf ↗

Graph Posterior Network improves uncertainty estimation for node classification in interdependent graphs.

problem Uncertainty quantification for non-independent node-level predictions in graphs.
method Derives axioms for expected predictive uncertainty, proposes Graph Posterior Network (GPN) which performs Bayesian posterior updates.
result GPN outperforms existing approaches for uncertainty estimation in semi-supervised node classification.

This paper tackles combinatorial optimization under uncertainty with limited feedback.

problem Tackling combinatorial optimization problems with uncertain or unknown parameters.
method Review of techniques for combinatorial pure exploration with limited bandit feedback.
result Introduction of methods for combinatorial optimization under uncertainty with limited observation.

Algorithms that tackle deep exploration -- an important challenge in reinforcement learning -- have relied on epistemic uncertainty representation through ensembles or other hypermodels, exploration bonuses, or visitation count distributions. An open question is whether deep exploration can be achieved by an incrementa…

2020-02-17abs ↗pdf ↗

We consider the exploration/exploitation problem in reinforcement learning. For exploitation, it is well known that the Bellman equation connects the value at any time-step to the expected value at subsequent time-steps. In this paper we consider a similar \textit{uncertainty} Bellman equation (UBE), which connects the…

2017-09-15abs ↗pdf ↗

The paper explores how prior functions and bootstrapping improve ensemble uncertainty estimation.

problem Improving uncertainty estimation in machine learning models.
method Investigates the benefits of prior functions and bootstrapping in ensemble models.
result Prior functions and bootstrapping enhance ensemble agents' uncertainty estimation across different inputs.

A new multi-objective RL framework improves intrinsic exploration performance.

problem Sub-optimal exploration performance due to ad-hoc handling of intrinsic exploration.
method A multi-objective RL framework where both exploration and exploitation are optimized as separate objectives.
result EMU-Q method outperforms classic and other intrinsic RL methods on benchmarks.

Reinforcement learning agents are faced with two types of uncertainty. Epistemic uncertainty stems from limited data and is useful for exploration, whereas aleatoric uncertainty arises from stochastic environments and must be accounted for in risk-sensitive applications. We highlight the challenges involved in simultan…

2019-05-23abs ↗pdf ↗

Study designs steering rewards for MFGs with unknown dynamics and model uncertainty.

problem Designing incentives for large populations of agents in MFGs with uncertain model details.
method Developed optimistic exploration algorithms for agents with no-adaptive regret behaviors.
result Sub-linear regret guarantees for cumulative gaps between agent behaviors and desired outcomes.

Efficient exploration remains a challenging problem in reinforcement learning, especially for those tasks where rewards from environments are sparse. A commonly used approach for exploring such environments is to introduce some "intrinsic" reward. In this work, we focus on model uncertainty estimation as an intrinsic r…

2019-11-19abs ↗pdf ↗

Estimates of predictive uncertainty are important for accurate model-based planning and reinforcement learning. However, predictive uncertainties---especially ones derived from modern deep learning systems---can be inaccurate and impose a bottleneck on performance. This paper explores which uncertainties are needed for…

2019-06-19abs ↗pdf ↗

DEUP directly predicts epistemic uncertainty, improving model optimization and exploration.

problem Existing measures of epistemic uncertainty do not account for model misspecification.
method Proposes a framework to estimate excess risk as a measure of epistemic uncertainty, using a secondary predictor for generalization error.
result DEUP improves sequential model optimization and exploration in interactive learning environments.

Deep Bayesian Bandits improve personalized ads by balancing exploration and exploitation.

problem Recommender systems favor items already engaged by users, causing new campaigns to remain unexplored.
method Formulated as a contextual bandit, implemented exploration techniques using posterior distribution and bootstrapped models.
result Demonstrated a positive gain in exploration model in offline simulation and online AB setting.

This paper explores Bayesian Neural Network posteriors, uncovering symmetries and their impact.

problem Understanding the complex posterior distribution of deep Bayesian Neural Networks.
method Investigates optimal approaches for approximating posteriors, analyzes modes, and explores visualizations.
result Uncovered weight-space symmetries and their impact on the posterior, particularly scaling symmetries.

The study explores machine learning for predicting customer propensity-to-pay uncertainty.

problem Improving customer experience, reducing financial hardship, and managing cash flow risks.
method Investigated machine learning models for predicting propensity-to-pay, focusing on uncertainty estimation.
result Novel Bayesian Neural Network model for binary classification of propensity-to-pay.

We study dynamic allocation problems for discrete time multi-armed bandits under uncertainty, based on the the theory of nonlinear expectations. We show that, under strong independence of the bandits and with some relaxation in the definition of optimality, a Gittins allocation index gives optimal choices. This involve…

2019-07-12abs ↗pdf ↗

New method improves GP uncertainty quantification for misspecified priors.

problem Uncertainty quantification for GPs under incorrect priors.
method Constructs a confidence sequence using martingale techniques.
result Empirically outperforms standard GP methods in robustness and utility for Bayesian Optimization.

We investigate statistical uncertainty quantification for reinforcement learning (RL) and its implications in exploration policy. Despite ever-growing literature on RL applications, fundamental questions about inference and error quantification, such as large-sample behaviors, appear to remain quite open. In this paper…

2019-10-12abs ↗pdf ↗

In distributional reinforcement learning (RL), the estimated distribution of value function models both the parametric and intrinsic uncertainties. We propose a novel and efficient exploration method for deep RL that has two components. The first is a decaying schedule to suppress the intrinsic uncertainty. The second …

2019-05-13abs ↗pdf ↗

The investor is interested in the expected return and he is also concerned about the risk and the uncertainty assumed by the investment. One of the most popular concepts used to measure the risk and the uncertainty is the variance and/or the standard-deviation. In this paper we explore the following issues: Is the stan…

2007-09-05abs ↗pdf ↗

D2D converts CLDs into SDMs to explore leverage points under uncertainty.

problem Limited dynamic analysis of CLDs for intervention strategies.
method Minimal user input protocol to convert CLDs into SDMs, simulating interventions.
result D2D helps distinguish leverage points and provides uncertainty estimates.

Paper optimizes industrial refrigeration using adaptive exploration.

problem Challenges in optimizing real-time industrial processes with unknown characteristics and safety constraints.
method Adaptive and explorative real-time optimization framework with Gaussian process uncertainty quantification.
result Approach increases energy efficiency of refrigeration process, approximating complete information solutions.

Proposes UICR to improve novelty in recommendation systems without sacrificing relevance.

problem Balancing relevance and novelty in recommendation systems is challenging, especially for long-tail items.
method Introduces uncertainty modeling in the matching stage and multi-task modeling of model and index uncertainty.
result Improves novelty without sacrificing relevance, as shown by experimental results and online A/B tests.

Study values and optimizes forestry leases under risk and uncertainty.

problem Valuing and optimizing forestry leases in the presence of catastrophe risk and parameter uncertainty.
method Stochastic bio-economic models, Kalman filter, maximum likelihood estimation, RBSDEs, Monte Carlo simulations.
result Conservative strategy is recommended due to parameter uncertainty.