Machine Learning and Neural Networks - page 3

 

Evolving AI Art



Evolving AI Art

The video discusses the process of evolving images using AI, starting with selecting an image, giving a prompt, and generating variations through an evolving process. The purpose of this process is exploration, to find beautiful and unimagined artwork or cute cats utilizing an inconceivably enormous and unsearchable image space. Input for text-to-image models allows users to enter a simple prompt and receive a vast array of possible images that satisfy that prompt, also allowing for the creation of entirely new images and organizing and cataloging existing ones in latent space. The Pick Breeder method is an efficient and natural way of mutating, selecting, and reproducing genes that perform the best to create images, allowing people to follow evolutionary threads and discover unexpected beauty through branching paths with powerful AI tools.

  • 00:00:00 The creator discusses an AI model called Mid-Journey, which is a text-to-image algorithm that uses neural networks to generate images based on a given text prompt. The creator has been experimenting with this algorithm on their Discord server, allowing users to select and mutate images and create evolutionary trees of life. While the creativity of this process is limited by the prompt and dataset used to train the model, the resulting images are unlike any artwork the creator has seen before, and the process has led to interesting and unique creations. The creator also mentions another open-source model called Stable Diffusion that they can run on their own GPU.

  • 00:05:00 In this section, the creator explains the process of evolving an image using AI. The process starts with selecting an image, giving a prompt, and then generating variations through an evolving process. The evolving process can be narrowed down to avoid the community aspect or allowed to run off on its own. The purpose of evolving an image is exploration, by exploring image space - a literal mathematical space in which each image occupies a point or vector - to find beautiful and unimagined artworks or exceptionally cute cats, something beyond random noise as image space is inconceivably enormous and hopelessly unsearchable.

  • 00:10:00 The video explains the input process for text-to-image models, which allows users to enter a prompt in simple language and receive a vast array of possible images that satisfy that prompt. These generative search engines can create entirely new images, as well as discover existing ones organized, cataloged, and labeled in the latent space. By giving the model random values, such as a latent vector, the image output has more variety and can be changed by moving about the latent space. The Pick Breeder method is an efficient and natural way of mutating, selecting, and reproducing the genes that perform best to create images. People can follow an evolutionary thread of interesting prompts and images to discover unexpected beauty through branching paths with these powerful tools.
Evolving AI Art
Evolving AI Art
  • 2022.10.29
  • www.youtube.com
In this video, I explain how #aiart generators like #midjourney and #stablediffusion can be used to simulate evolutionary processes, and explain why this is ...
 

The AI that creates any picture you want, explained



The text-to-image revolution, explained

This video discusses how machine learning algorithms can be used to generate images based on text descriptions, and how this technology can be used to create artwork. The video interviews James Gurney, an American illustrator, who discusses the implications of this technology on copyright law and the art world.

  • 00:00:00 This part explains how machine learning algorithms can caption images, and how developers have created text-to-image generators using these algorithms. The video also discusses how prompt engineering is necessary to communicate with these models effectively.

  • 00:05:00 The AI that creates any picture you want, explained, starts with a training dataset of millions of images and their accompanying captions. The models learn to recognize patterns in these images, and then generate new images based on that recognition. Images generated this way can be different for different people and models, due to the randomness of the diffusion process.

  • 00:10:00 This video explains how deep learning allows users to create images similar to those produced by famous artists without having to copy their images directly. The video interviews James Gurney, an American illustrator, who became a popular reference for users of text to image models. Gurney says that although artists should be allowed to opt in or opt out of their work being used as a dataset for creating other artwork, copyright questions surrounding the images that go into training the models and the images that come out of them are still unresolved. Additionally, the latent space of these models contains some dark corners that get scarier as outputs become photorealistic. However, what makes this technology so unique is that it enables any of us to direct the machine to imagine what we want it to see.
The text-to-image revolution, explained
The text-to-image revolution, explained
  • 2022.06.01
  • www.youtube.com
How programmers turned the internet into a paintbrush. DALL-E 2, Midjourney, Imagen, explained.Subscribe and turn on notifications 🔔 so you don't miss any v...
 

Guide to MidJourney AI Art - How to get started FREE!



Guide to MidJourney AI Art - How to get started FREE!

In this video, the speaker introduces MidJourney, a tool that generates AI art based on prompts, and provides step-by-step instructions on how to get started with it. They demonstrate how to use commands to change the style and quality of the generated images, using examples such as "3D render" or "dripping ink sketch." Additionally, they explain the community section of the MidJourney website, where users can find inspiration and copy prompts to try out themselves. The speaker also shares their journey with AI art and provides additional resources and codes for those interested in learning more.

  • 00:00:00 This part explains how to get started with MidJourney, a tool that generates AI art based on prompts. To sign up, go to the MidJourney website and follow the prompts to register and accept the Discord invite. Once in Discord, type in the command "/imagine" followed by a prompt such as "purple human with wings" to generate an image. The speaker also shows how to upscale the image for more detail and how to change the style of the image using different commands such as "3D render" or "dripping ink sketch." Every time a command is entered, the resulting image will be unique.

  • 00:05:00 In this section, the narrator explores the different styles and quality options available in MidJourney AI art. They demonstrate using keywords and commands to create a range of effects on a 3D render, including hyper-realism and stylization. They also experiment with using an image of themselves as a prompt and adjusting the image weight to produce different results.
    Additionally, they discuss the community section of the MidJourney website, where users can find inspiration and copy prompts to try out themselves. The narrator also provides tips on how to use MidJourney responsibly, such as adding a disclaimer when sharing generated art online.

  • 00:10:00 The narrator provides links to their Discord and MidJourney AI Art, as well as other resources and codes related to their AI art journey. They encourage viewers to check out their journey for themselves and offer additional information for those interested in learning more.
Guide to MidJourney AI Art - How to get started FREE!
Guide to MidJourney AI Art - How to get started FREE!
  • 2022.08.18
  • www.youtube.com
Start for Free. This Guide to Midjourney AI Art will show you how to get started and show you a few tricks and give ean you an idea of how powerful this pla...
 

MidJourney -Getting Started [New & Updated] A quick tutorial to get you started in AI art generation



MidJourney -Getting Started [New & Updated] A quick tutorial to get you started in AI art generation

The video tutorial provides a comprehensive overview of how to use MidJourney's AI art generation platform, which can only be accessed through Discord. The speaker explains the different subscription modes available, how to create prompts using artists and various conditions, how to use switches to remove unwanted elements from AI-generated images, and how to upscale and adjust aspect ratios of images. They also provide tips on how to generate unique AI art using prompts with visual appeal and by using the variation button before upscaling. Overall, MidJourney is presented as a tool for artistic exploration and departure rather than a means of creating finished works of art.

  • 00:00:00 This part provides an overview of mid-journey and Discord, explaining that mid-journey can only be accessed through Discord. They discuss how Discord is a platform used for voice chatting that can also be used to create bots, which is how mid-journey operates. They also explain the ownership of the assets created within mid-journey and the pricing options available for using the service. The speaker then goes on to discuss the different rooms and features within Discord and how to get started with mid-journey, including using the different commands available through the slash.

  • 00:05:00 In this section of the tutorial, the narrator discusses the different subscription modes available on MidJourney, including relaxed mode and private mode. They also explain the various upscaling modes and caution against using too high of a quality to avoid using too many image credits. The narrator also briefly covers the journey website, including the community feed where users can view other people's creations and copy their prompts. Finally, the narrator introduces the "imagine" command and discusses the process of creating an image using prompts and various switches.

  • 00:10:00 In this section of the tutorial, the user explains how to navigate MidJourney's AI art generation platform, including how to rate images for free hours of image generation, how to upscale and access variations of images, and how to create prompts using artists and other conditions. They caution that while prompt engineering is an important aspect of AI art creation, users should be prepared for unexpected results and view the platform as an idea engine rather than a finished product.

  • 00:15:00 This part video tutorial explains how to use certain switches to remove unwanted elements from an AI-generated image, such as the "no -- people" switch. However, the effectiveness of such switches depends on the artist selected and the complexity of the image. The tutorial also goes over common directives that can be added to an AI art prompt, such as "highly detailed" or "oil painting," and the importance of keeping prompts concise to avoid confusing the AI bot. Finally, the tutorial covers how to upscale images and adjust their aspect ratios using MidJourney.

  • 00:20:00 The author explains how to use additional flags while upscaling an image to get different results. The flags start with "AR," which stands for aspect ratio, followed by the width and height separated by a colon. The speaker notes that there are limitations to the technology, such as issues with fingers, faces, and extra limbs. They also explore different types of prompts, such as cryengine and watercolor, and how to remix them. Finally, the speaker recommends starting with a basic prompt and then perfecting it by remixing and upscaling it. The final image can be saved and downloaded from the MidJourney website.

  • 00:25:00 This part discusses different strategies for generating unique AI art with MidJourney. He mentions that using prompts with visual appeal or specific looks, such as "Blade Runner" or "cyberpunk," can be helpful in guiding MidJourney's output. He also suggests using the variation button before committing to upscaling an image to get the best possible result. Finally, he reminds viewers that MidJourney is a tool for artistic exploration and departure, not necessarily for finished works of art.
MidJourney -Getting Started [New & Updated] A quick tutorial to get you started in AI art generation
MidJourney -Getting Started [New & Updated] A quick tutorial to get you started in AI art generation
  • 2022.10.26
  • www.youtube.com
There have been a lot of changes since the launch of MidJourney and it was about time I made an updated tutorial on how to get started. As more people disco...
 

ChatGPT, Explained: What to Know About OpenAI's Chatbot | Tech News Briefing Podcast | Wall Street Journal



ChatGPT, Explained: What to Know About OpenAI's Chatbot | Tech News Briefing Podcast | WSJ

Chatbots are now available to the public and can be used to ask questions and get responses. There are concerns about how these tools could be used, but experts say that people should use them to enhance their work, not replace their roles.

  • 00:00:00 ChatGPT, a state-of-the-art conversational AI model, is capable of engaging in human-like conversations and providing answers to questions. It is built on massive amounts of data and is being used by OpenAI, an artificial intelligence company, to develop Dolly, an AI platform that creates images. While ChatGPT has limitations, its popularity and sophistication raises questions about its potential uses and misuse.

  • 00:05:00 Chatbots are now available to the public and can be used to ask questions and get responses. There are concerns about how these tools could be used, but experts say that people should use them to enhance their work, not replace their roles.
ChatGPT, Explained: What to Know About OpenAI's Chatbot | Tech News Briefing Podcast | WSJ
ChatGPT, Explained: What to Know About OpenAI's Chatbot | Tech News Briefing Podcast | WSJ
  • 2022.12.07
  • www.youtube.com
ChatGPT, Lensa and DALL-E are giving more people without computing skills the chance to interact with artificial intelligence. These AI programs that can wri...
 

CS 156 Lecture 01 - The Learning Problem




Caltech's Machine Learning Course - CS 156. Lecture 01 - The Learning Problem

The first lecture of Yaser Abu-Mostafa's machine learning course introduces the learning problem, which is the process of finding patterns in data to make predictions without human intervention. He explains the need for mathematical formalization to abstract practical learning problems and introduces the first algorithm for machine learning in the course, the perceptron model, which uses a weight vector to classify data points into binary categories. The lecture also covers different types of learning, including supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning, and presents a supervised learning problem to the audience to address the issue of determining a target function for learning.The professor covers various topics related to machine learning. He emphasizes the need to avoid bias when selecting data sets, as well as the importance of collecting a sufficient amount of data. The professor also discusses the role of the hypothesis set in machine learning and the impact of the choice of error function on the optimization technique. He also touches on the criteria for including machine learning methods in the course and his focus on providing practical knowledge rather than pure theory.

  • 00:00:00 In this section, Yaser Abu-Mostafa introduces the course outline for machine learning and explains the importance of both mathematical and practical aspects of the subject. He states that the course topics are not meant to be separate but follow a logical storyline. He then delves into the learning problem by giving an example of how a viewer would rate a movie, which is relevant for Netflix as they use it to personalize recommendations for their customers. He mentions the importance of mathematical formalization in abstracting practical learning problems and introduces the first algorithm for machine learning in the course. He also provides a survey of the types of learning and ends with an interesting puzzle.

  • 00:05:00 In this section, the lecturer explains that the essence of machine learning lies in the existence of patterns along with the availability of data. Furthermore, he describes the need to find patterns, which is not possible mathematically without proper data. Using the example of movie ratings, he talks about creating a system to predict the rating using the viewer's preferences as a vector of factors and compares them with the content of the movie. Although this system works, it's not considered machine learning since it requires human intervention. The idea of machine learning is that it can solve the problem without human intervention by finding patterns and taking corrective actions to improve the system on its own.

  • 00:10:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the learning approach and how it reverse-engineers the rating process to find out what factors would be consistent with that rating. The machine learning process starts from random factors and nudges them toward the rating values by cycling through 100 million ratings over and over again, eventually finding meaningful factors in terms of the ratings. The speaker then uses a metaphor from a financial application, credit approval, to explain the mathematical components that make up the learning problem, which include the applicant information, the creditworthiness pattern, and the decision to approve or deny the credit.

  • 00:15:00 In this section, the instructor discusses the learning problem and how it applies to credit approval. The target function is the ideal credit approval formula, which is unknown, and the hypothesis is the formula created to approximate the target function. Data is used to learn the hypothesis, and a learning algorithm is used to create the formula from a set of candidate formulas known as the hypothesis set. The reasoning behind restricting the learning algorithm to the hypothesis set is to avoid the downside of having an unrestricted formula and to benefit from having a predefined set of formulas to choose from.

  • 00:20:00 In this section, the speaker explains that he has shown the learning problem as an image to discuss the solution components of the figure. He notes that the hypothesis set plays a vital role in the theory of learning as it tells us how well we learn, among other things. He explains that the hypothesis set, the learning algorithm, and final hypothesis make up a learning model, such as the perceptron model, and a perceptron learning algorithm. He goes on to give a simple perceptron model example using a credit score formula based on different attributes of a customer, which can either approve or deny a credit card application based on a threshold.

  • 00:25:00 In this section, the professor discusses how to define a hypothesis h and the hypothesis set that has all the hypotheses that have the same functional form. By using the perceptron model, which separates data into two regions, the learning algorithm plays around with parameters to move the line around in hopes of arriving at the correct solution. The professor also introduces the perceptron learning algorithm, which takes training data and navigates through the space of hypotheses to bring up the final hypothesis that gives to the customer. The algorithm starts with random weights and moves around until it finds the correct weight, which is used in the final hypothesis.

  • 00:30:00 In this section, the speaker explains the perceptron learning algorithm (PLA), which is a linear model that is capable of classifying data points into binary categories. The algorithm uses a weight vector that takes into account all the attributes in the dataset, and if a point is misclassified, the algorithm updates the weight vector so that it behaves better on that particular point. The speaker also discusses how there are problems with this approach and the iterations of the PLA, but that by picking a misclassified point and applying the iteration to it, you will eventually get to a correct solution if the data was originally linearly separable.

  • 00:35:00 In this section, the lecturer discusses different types of learning, starting with the most popular type, supervised learning. This type of learning involves using data with explicitly given outputs, such as customer credit behavior, to help classify future instances. The lecturer uses the example of teaching a machine to recognize different coins using physical measurements such as size and mass. The coins can be grouped based on their measurements, which can help the machine distinguish between them. Other types of learning mentioned include unsupervised learning, which will be discussed in detail later in the course, and reinforcement learning, which will be briefly introduced.

  • 00:40:00 In this section, the lecturer discusses supervised and unsupervised learning using examples of coin classification and language learning. In supervised learning, the training data and the correct output are given, and once the system is trained, it can be used to classify a future example. However, in unsupervised learning, only the input data is provided, and the target function is not known. Despite this, unsupervised learning can still be useful in grouping data into clusters and identifying patterns that can aid in future classification. The lecturer also explains how unsupervised learning can be used for language learning by immersing oneself in the language and developing a model of the language through exposure to it.

  • 00:45:00 In this section, the video explains the concept of reinforcement learning as a method of allowing a system to learn through experience. The lecturer uses the example of a toddler touching a hot cup of tea to illustrate how reinforcement learning works. By allowing the system to make any output (even crazy ones) and gradually relying on conditioning through rewarding or punishing results, the system can eventually learn to navigate games such as backgammon. This approach is a convenient and easier method of producing the desired system instead of writing code and studying the mathematics behind it.

  • 00:50:00 In this section of the lecture, the professor presents a supervised learning problem to the class and online audience. The problem involves training data with some points mapped to +1 and others mapped to -1. The goal is to learn the target function and determine the value of the function for a test point. The professor emphasizes that the target function is unknown and may be anything, making it impossible to determine a pattern that applies outside of the given training set. This presents a difficult challenge for learning, requiring methods beyond simply memorizing examples.

  • 00:55:00 In this section of the lecture, the professor discusses questions from the Q&A session. He addresses the issue of linear separability and explains that while it's a simplistic assumption, there are algorithms that can deal with the case of linear inseparability, and a technique will be studied in the next week to make non-linearly separable points linearly separable. The professor also mentions that the rate of convergence of the perceptron algorithm changes with dimensionality and can build pathological cases where it will take forever. Additionally, he discusses that it's difficult to know if there is a specific pattern to detect, but there is a separation between the target function and whether we can learn it, which will be explained in a full lecture later.

  • 01:00:00 In this section of the video, the professor discusses how he tries to avoid looking at the particular data set given to him or tailoring his system towards it in order to prevent disappointment when another data set comes along. He explains that machine learning is a discipline that tries to cover the most territory with the least assumptions, and it can be applied both practically and scientifically. Furthermore, the professor mentions that optimization is a tool for machine learning, but it is not something that machine learning people study for its own sake. Finally, he notes that the hypothesis set for machine learning can be anything, either continuous or discrete.

  • 01:05:00 In this section, the professor talks about sampling bias in credit approval and how it affects the quality of data used. He explains that taking a biased sample can lead to inaccurate results, but using a customer base to make decisions can still work because the customer base is farther into the classification region. He then discusses the theoretical and practical aspects of collecting data and how much data is necessary to create a reasonable system. Finally, he addresses the issue of choosing the hypothesis set size and states that the goal of learning is to predict using data to come up with a reasonable pattern that will generalize outside the dataset.

  • 01:10:00 In this section of the lecture on the learning problem, the professor discusses the role of theory in machine learning, specifically how it measures the sophistication of a hypothesis set and the amount of data needed for making statements about generalization. The professor also covers questions from the online audience, including how to correct feedback using validation and the use of different types of functions for hypotheses. Additionally, the role of the learning algorithm and hypothesis set is discussed, focusing on how the choice of error function affects the optimization technique choice. Finally, the professor clarifies what happens if an output is exactly at the threshold for the perceptron algorithm.

  • 01:15:00 In this section of the lecture, the professor discusses the idea that there needs to be a pattern in order for machine learning to work. If there is no pattern, then there is nothing to learn. He also mentions the importance of data and how it is key to learning. The professor emphasizes the importance of going through the mathematically inclined sections of the outline in order to fully understand the components that make learning possible. He also briefly touches on the question of why the perceptron is often related to a neuron and mentions that the analogy with biology will be discussed in more detail later. Lastly, the professor mentions that model selection and Bayesian principles will be discussed later in the course.

  • 01:20:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the criteria for including machine learning methods in the course. He states that the most useful methods in practice will be included and that he aims to provide a big picture understanding of the concepts and tools to use them in practice. He mentions that there are different hierarchical methods with ramifications in generalization that he may touch upon when discussing support vector machines, but overall, his focus is on providing practical knowledge rather than pure theory.
Lecture 01 - The Learning Problem
Lecture 01 - The Learning Problem
  • 2012.08.28
  • www.youtube.com
The Learning Problem - Introduction; supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning. Components of the learning problem. Lecture 1 of 18 of Caltech's M...
 

Lecture 2. Is Learning Feasible?



Caltech's Machine Learning Course - CS 156. Lecture 02 - Is Learning Feasible?

The lecture discusses the feasibility of learning, specifically the use of machine learning in determining patterns from given data. The lecturer introduces the concept of nu and mu in probability and how it relates to the learning problem. The addition of probability is explored, enabling the feasibility of learning without compromising the target function, meaning no assumptions need to be made about the function that will be learned. The concept of overfitting and how it relates to model sophistication is discussed, with a larger number of hypotheses leading to poorer generalization. Ultimately, the lecture concludes with a request to review the slide on the implication of nu equals mu.

  • 00:00:00 In this section, Yaser Abu-Mostafa discusses the three criteria for determining if machine learning is the right technique for an application: whether there is a pattern that can be learned, if the pattern cannot be pinned down mathematically, and if sufficient data exists to represent the pattern. Additionally, he explains that if there is no pattern, machine learning can still be tried but will fail, and if the pattern can be mathematically determined, machine learning may not be the optimal technique. Abu-Mostafa further explains supervised learning, where the target function is unknown, but the data input and output are provided, and how it is called "supervised" because the output acts as a supervisor to the learning process.

  • 00:05:00 In this section, the lecturer discusses the feasibility of learning and how it is impossible to learn an unknown function. To address this question, the lecture focuses on a probabilistic situation where a sample is taken from a bin of marbles that are either red or green with a probability of picking a red marble represented by mu. The lecture translates this situation to learning and then finds a solution to the dilemma, ultimately declaring that learning is feasible in a particular sense.

  • 00:10:00 In this section of the video, the presenter describes an experiment with an opaque bin containing marbles, where the probability of picking a red marble is mu and the probability of picking a green marble is 1 minus mu. The value of mu is unknown, and the goal is to determine whether the sample frequency nu (fraction of red marbles in a sample of marbles) can provide any information about mu. The answer is no for small samples, but for larger samples, nu can be close to mu with a higher probability, opening possibilities for statistical inference. The distinction between possible and probable is key in science and engineering.

  • 00:15:00 In this section, the lecturer introduces Hoeffding's Inequality, which is a formula that will be used throughout the course to prove something about the VC dimension. The inequality states that the probability of an event, where the sample frequency does not approximate the bin frequency within a given tolerance, is small and diminishes exponentially with a larger sample size. However, a smaller tolerance results in a higher exponent, which dampens the benefits of the negative exponential. The formula with the 2's is preferred over the original formula as it is true.

  • 00:20:00 In this section of the lecture, the Hoeffding's Inequality is introduced as a tool to bound the deviation of the sample frequency from the true frequency. The inequality holds true for every N and epsilon, making it a very attractive proposition despite having an exponential in it. The probability distribution of nu depends explicitly on mu, which is the unknown value, but the inequality doesn't depend on mu, which is an advantage. The trade-off between N and epsilon is also discussed, as the smaller the epsilon, the larger the N needed to compensate for the same level of probability bound. Finally, the logic of the statement that nu is approximately the same as mu is explained, implying that mu is approximately the same as nu.

  • 00:25:00 In this section of the video, the speaker discusses the concept of mu and nu in probability and how it relates to the learning problem. They explain that while in probability the purpose is to infer mu from nu through generating different samples and computing the probability, in the learning problem the unknown quantity is a full-function with a domain that could be a 10th-order Euclidean space. The speaker then goes on to introduce the concept of color-coding in this scenario to indicate agreement between a hypothesis and target function. Through this mapping, the speaker has effectively added probability to the learning problem.

  • 00:30:00 In this section, the addition of probability to the learning problem is explored. Probability is introduced to the input space by applying probability distribution over the input space, which generates points independently. The probability distribution that is introduced does not require assumptions, and the machinery can be applied to any probability distribution. The addition of probability enables the feasibility of learning without compromising the target function, meaning that no assumptions need to be made about the function that will be learned. However, the verification problem is discussed, where the situation described is equivalent to a bank seeking a specific formula for credit approval based on given data.

  • 00:35:00 In this section, the lecturer explains how to turn a simple hypothesis testing problem into a binary problem that can be learned. Starting with a single bin and a high threshold, he picks a weight of 0.1 for years in residence as it contributes weakly to the learning problem. However, this technique doesn't account for multiple hypotheses, meaning it's more intelligent to choose from several bins. This requires one to scan different samples, which can allow for effective learning. The lecturer introduces the notation that will be used throughout the remainder of the talk, calling nu and mu with descriptive names, as they represent frequency in the sample and inside the bin respectively, consequently introducing E_in as the in-sample error rate.

  • 00:40:00 In this section of the lecture, the professor introduces the notation for in-sample and out-of-sample performance. Out-of-sample performance refers to something that hasn't been seen before, and if a model performs well on out-of-sample data, it means that it has learned. The Hoeffding Inequality, which is used to measure the differences in in-sample and out-of-sample performance, is then applied to multiple bins of hypotheses, but the professor explains that it doesn't apply in this case. The reason why it doesn't apply is then discussed, and the audience is asked to flip a coin five times and record the results to illustrate the point.

  • 00:45:00 In this section, the professor describes how the Hoeffding inequality applies to the learning situation, where the data randomly falls into one of two categories. He explains that multiple bins make dealing with the problem difficult and dilutes the guarantee of Hoeffding's inequality as it calculates the probability that a bin will give five heads. Although each of the bins may pass the test of five heads, they are no indication of the bin’s real probability, as getting extremely high probability that something bad will happen, somewhere, is likely to occur. The professor ends this section by stating that they need to find something that can make them deal with multiple bins efficiently.

  • 00:50:00 In this section, the lecturer discusses the probability of the in-sample error being close to the out-of-sample error under the Genuine Learning Scenario, which involves picking one hypothesis from a set based on an in-sample criterion. The probability of this event is less than or equal to the probability that any hypothesis from the finite set is bad, which is calculated using the Union Bound in probability. Although this bound is pessimistic and doesn't consider overlap, it can be used to calculate the upper bound on all the probabilities. Each term in this bound corresponds to a fixed hypothesis, which can be substituted by the Hoeffding bound. Ultimately, the probability of the in-sample error being close to the out-of-sample error is still bounded by a term with an exponential in it, but it includes an additional factor that is bothersome.

  • 00:55:00 In this section, the professor discusses the problem of overfitting and how it relates to the sophistication of the model used. With a larger number of hypotheses, the probability of something bad happening also increases. The professor explains that having a more sophisticated model can lead to memorization in-sample and poor generalization out-of-sample. The Q&A session discusses the Hoeffding Inequality and its implications, including the case when the result is trivial, and how the number of hypotheses for learning models is often infinite. The lecture concludes with a request to review slide 6 on the implication of nu equals mu.

  • 01:00:00 In this section of the video, the professor explains the concept of cause and effect in statistics and how it relates to machine learning. He emphasizes that the frequency in the sample is the effect, while the bin is the cause. This understanding is crucial when using the Hoeffding Inequality to infer the bin based on the sample while treating mu as a constant and nu as the cause. The professor also clarifies that each h in machine learning is a hypothesis, and the model is the set of hypotheses available for selection. The complexity of the model and individual hypotheses will be discussed later in the course. Finally, the professor discusses how to extend the equation to support a range of responses and not just a binary response, which can be achieved by taking the expected value of something versus the sample average.

  • 01:05:00 In this section, the professor explains that learning is feasible, but the variance of the variable must be taken into consideration. He notes that the expected value and sample average of a function are related to probability, and that it is just a simpler case of the probability and sample average. Additionally, he clarifies that the use of multiple bins is necessary to represent multiple hypotheses in learning, as different hypotheses will lead to different colors. The professor also explains how picking the best hyperplanes works and how learning algorithms solve this problem by choosing the specific solution they end with. Lastly, he points out that the only invocation of probability needed in learning is to put a probability distribution on X to get the benefit of the probabilistic analysis in learning, but that the Bayesian approach will put a probability distribution on H at the end of the course.

  • 01:10:00 In this section, the discussion centers around the flexibility of the hypotheses set (H) used in a learning algorithm. The symbol 'g' is used to denote the final hypothesis picked by an algorithm from H. However, g can be different since it refers to the entire learning process that went into picking it from the hypothesis set according to the data and learning rule. Also, it is important to note that even though the perceptron algorithm or any linear learning algorithm picks a hypothesis at each step, it is a hidden process from an analysis perspective since the aim is to pick one correct final hypothesis, g, from H. Finally, the modified Hoeffding Inequality is an extension of the plain-vanilla Hoeffding Inequality that allows one to make statements simultaneously on a number of hypotheses in the hypothesis set in order to guarantee good performance while accounting for the probability that bad things can happen.

  • 01:15:00 In this section, the professor discusses the relationship between the Hoeffding Inequality and p-values in statistics. He explains that the Hoeffding Inequality is related to estimating a sample's reliability and probability of deviation. He also notes that there are other laws of large numbers in statistics, but he focuses on this formula as the most useful for understanding the theory of generalization. The professor mentions that while studying different manifestations of in-sample being close to out-of-sample and probabilities of error is useful, it is not a core subject of the course. The lecture concludes, and students are dismissed until the next week.
Lecture 02 - Is Learning Feasible?
Lecture 02 - Is Learning Feasible?
  • 2012.04.09
  • www.youtube.com
Is Learning Feasible? - Can we generalize from a limited sample to the entire space? Relationship between in-sample and out-of-sample. Lecture 2 of 18 of Cal...
 

Lecture 3 -The Linear Model I




Caltech's Machine Learning Course - CS 156. Lecture 03 -The Linear Model I

This lecture covers the topics of linear models in machine learning, input representation, the perceptron algorithm, the pocket algorithm, and linear regression, including its use in classification. The professor emphasizes the importance of using real data to try out different ideas and introduces the concept of features to simplify the learning algorithm's life. The lecture also discusses the computational aspects of the pseudo-inverse in linear regression, and the problems that can arise when using linear regression for classification on non-separable data. Finally, the concept of using nonlinear transformations to make data more linear is presented, with an example demonstrating how to achieve separable data using the transformation x1² and x2² from the origin.

Also the professor covers various topics related to the linear model in machine learning. He discusses nonlinear transformations and guidelines on selecting them, in-sample and out-of-sample errors in binary classification, using linear regression for correlation analysis, and deriving meaningful features from input. The professor also emphasizes the importance of understanding the distinction between E_in and E_out and how they impact model performance. Lastly, he touches on the relationship between linear regression and maximum likelihood estimation, the use of nonlinear transformations, and the role of theory in understanding machine learning concepts.

  • 00:00:00 In this section, Yaser Abu-Mostafa delves into the topic of multiple hypotheses in a model. As the probability of something bad happening could accumulate across multiple hypotheses, the union bound - a mathematical rule - can be applied. This technique enables the probability of an event or another event to be less than or equal to the sum of the individual probabilities, providing a useful tool for bounding the probability of something bad happening. When a single hypothesis set or bin corresponds to a single hypothesis, the probability the final hypothesis will be bad is small. However, a larger hypothesis set will result in a large M factor, rendering the probability meaningless.

  • 00:05:00 In this section, the lecturer discusses the importance of linear models in machine learning and provides a sequence of topics covered in the lecture, which includes the perceptron and its generalization to non-separable data, a real-valued function, and eventually to a nonlinear case. He also introduces a practical data set from ZIP codes in the postal office that will be used to try out different ideas and emphasizes the importance of trying ideas on real data. The lecturer examines the question of input representation, highlighting the challenge of encoding the 256 real numbers of the 16 by 16 gray level pixels raw input, which could lead to too many parameters, but is solved with feature extraction techniques.

  • 00:10:00 In this section, the video discusses the concept of input representation and the idea of features to simplify the learning algorithm's life. The lecturer gives an example of extracting descriptors of an image, such as intensity and symmetry, to obtain a higher-level representation of the raw information. By using these features, the algorithm only needs to determine the values of a few parameters instead of all 257 parameters in the original space, which is better for generalization. The lecture then presents scatter diagrams of the intensity and symmetry coordinates to illustrate how the features make the problem linearly separable and introduces the perceptron learning algorithm's role in determining the decision boundary.

  • 00:15:00 In this section, we learn about the behavior of the perceptron learning algorithm when the data is not linearly separable. Due to its nature of correcting misclassifications one at a time, sometimes the error will go up or down, and it cannot guarantee convergence for such cases. To solve this, we introduce the pocket algorithm, which means we measure the in-sample error of the intermediate hypothesis during each iteration, and only keep the best one in our pocket. In the end, we report the hypothesis in our pocket as the final hypothesis. The pocket algorithm provides better results since it considers the pocket value at each iteration that was found to be better than what followed, and thus in-sample and out-sample errors are much closer.

  • 00:20:00 In this section of the lecture, Professor Abu-Mostafa discusses the pocket algorithm, which is a modified version of the perceptron learning algorithm that can be used for general inseparable data. The algorithm terminates at a certain iteration and reports the pocket value. He explains that the classification boundary of the pocket algorithm is better than that of the perceptron learning algorithm, although the data is still not perfectly separable. Linear regression is then introduced as a commonly used statistical approach for finding a relationship between variables, particularly for analyzing the relationship between different courses' GPAs and future earnings. Finally, the credit approval example is revisited to show how regression can be used to predict a customer's credit limit based on their data.

  • 00:25:00 In this section, the professor introduces the concept of linear regression and explains that it is used to predict real output values based on input variables. The output is a hypothesis that takes a linear form in terms of the input variables. The variables are encoded as inputs, and the algorithm depends on the linearity of the signal. The data set for this example is historical data from previous customers in which an officer evaluated their credit applications and determined a credit line. The goal is to replicate what the experts do in order to automate the system of determining credit lines. The linear regression algorithm measures the error and tries to find the optimal weights to determine the hypothesis that approximates f well. The standard error function used in linear regression is the squared error.

  • 00:30:00 In this section, the lecturer discusses how to estimate a credit line and the importance of defining an error measure, such as the squared error, which is commonly used in linear regression. The in-sample error is used to gauge how well the hypothesis is doing on the data set, where each example has a contribution to the error. The linear regression algorithm seeks to minimize this error by finding a line that fits the data according to the squared-error rule. The algorithm applies to higher-dimensional spaces where the line is a hyperplane. The expression for E_in is presented as a norm squared of something that consolidates the different x_n's.

  • 00:35:00 In this section, the concept of the linear model is introduced, where the input data is presented as a matrix X with a vector of outputs y. The gradient is taken to minimize E_in with respect to the parameter w. This leads to a straightforward quadratic equation to solve, which involves X transposed X, an invertible square matrix. The solution is simple due to this, and the formula for w is X^†, where X^† is the pseudo-inverse of X, which is a shorthand for the inverse of X transposed X multiplied by X transposed. Because X is non-invertible, it does not have a traditional inverse, but it does have a pseudo-inverse.

  • 00:40:00 In this section, the lecturer explains the computational aspects of the pseudo-inverse in linear regression. The formula for the pseudo-inverse involves matrix inversion and multiplication, which can be computationally intensive for large matrices. However, the lecturer notes that this is not a concern for most practical applications since there are many packages available for computing the pseudo-inverse or the solution for linear regression. To use linear regression, one must input the data in the correct format, construct the matrix X and the vector y, and then plug these into the formula for the pseudo-inverse. The resulting multiplication gives the values for w, the weights for the linear model.

  • 00:45:00 In this section, the concept of using linear regression for classification is introduced. It is explained that binary-valued classification functions are also real-valued and linear regression can be used to approximately learn these functions. The weights obtained from linear regression can also be used as initial weights for classification algorithms like the perceptron algorithm, providing a jump start and potentially faster convergence. Additionally, the idea of using the sign of the signal obtained from linear regression to classify as +1 or -1 is discussed. Finally, the linear regression boundary is explained using an example.

  • 00:50:00 In this section of the lecture, the professor discusses the problems that can arise when using linear regression for classification, particularly when dealing with non-separable data. He demonstrates that the algorithm will try to force all values to the same classification, often resulting in errors in the classification process. He then introduces the idea of using nonlinear transformations to make the data more linear, such as in the case of determining credit line stability based on years in residence. However, he emphasizes that it is important to understand what is meant by "linear" in terms of these models for effective use.

  • 00:55:00 In this section, the lecturer discusses the importance of linearity in the weights when deriving learning algorithms like perceptron and linear regression, as it enables the algorithms to work regardless of what the x's are. This opens up the possibility of doing nonlinear transformations to the inputs without leaving the realm of linear models because the weights given to the nonlinear features depend linearly on the parameters. An example of a nonlinear transformation is given, where data is transformed using x1² and x2² measurements from the origin, resulting in separable data. However, nonlinear transformation is a loaded question that is sensitive to generalization issues, so guidelines will be discussed further in the next lecture.

  • 01:00:00 In this section, the professor discusses nonlinear transformations and guidelines on how far one can go when choosing them. He emphasizes the importance of generalization and theoretical knowledge when selecting nonlinear transformations. The discussion then moves on to in-sample and out-of-sample errors, specifically in the context of binary classification. The professor clarifies that in learning, only the in-sample error is dealt with, while the out-of-sample error is handled implicitly with the guarantee that doing well in-sample will translate to doing well out-of-sample. The distinction between probability of error and frequency of error in classification is also explained. The lecture then touches on using linear regression to determine the correlation between GPA and future income. The availability of data and the inclusion of w_0 in linear regression are also briefly discussed.

  • 01:05:00 In this section, the professor explains that the threshold is necessary for linear regression, as it compensates for the offset depending on the values of the variables, allowing for a proper model. In the binary case, when using +1 or -1 as outputs, the hypothesis from linear regression has the least squared error from the targets on the examples, and the output of the hypothesis is closest to the value +1 or -1 with a mean squared error. While this technique can work, it may not classify points correctly, as linear regression attempts to fit irrelevant points that can mess up the classification. The professor suggests using linear regression as an initial weight, and then using a proper classification algorithm to fine-tune it further. On deriving features, there is no general algorithm, and the best approach is to look at the raw input and try to infer meaningful features based on the problem statement. However, if there are too many features, it can become a problem, and that's where non-linear transformations can help simplify the feature space.

  • 01:10:00 In this section, the professor discusses the concept of features, which are any higher-level representations of a raw input. The linear model is a building block for numerous models in machine learning, and other models may give better incremental performance in some cases, but he emphasizes that the linear model does the job. The professor also highlights the difference between E_in and E_out, with E_in being easily assessed, while E_out requires theoretical guarantees that the in-sample error tracks the out-of-sample error. Additionally, he explains that linear regression can still be used for fitting a polynomial by transforming the input variable through a nonlinear transformation. Finally, he briefly talks about the relationship between linear regression least squares and maximum likelihood estimation in the statistics literature, which involves more assumptions about probabilities and noise.

  • 01:15:00 In this section, the professor talks about the relationship between the linear regression model and maximum likelihood, but prefers to present the linear regression in the context of machine learning without making too many assumptions about distributions. The professor also discusses nonlinear transformations and how they are used in machine learning, including polynomials and radial basis functions. He also addresses questions about finding patterns in pseudo-random number generators and the different treatments for continuous versus discrete responses, which depend on the problem at hand. Finally, the professor emphasizes the importance of theory in understanding machine learning techniques more deeply.
Lecture 03 -The Linear Model I
Lecture 03 -The Linear Model I
  • 2012.04.12
  • www.youtube.com
The Linear Model I - Linear classification and linear regression. Extending linear models through nonlinear transforms. Lecture 3 of 18 of Caltech's Machine ...
 

Lecture 4 - Error and Noise



Caltech's Machine Learning Course - CS 156. Lecture 04 - Error and Noise

In Lecture 04 of the machine learning course, Professor Abu-Mostafa discusses the importance of error and noise in real-life machine learning problems. He explains the concept of nonlinear transformation using the feature space Z, which is essential in preserving linearity in learning. The lecture also covers the components of the supervised learning diagram, emphasizing the importance of error measures in quantifying the performance of the hypothesis. Noisy targets are introduced as a typical component of real-world learning problems, which must be considered when minimizing the in-sample error. The lecture ends with a discussion on the theory of learning and its relevance in evaluating the in-sample error, out-of-sample error, and model complexity.

The professor explains how changes in the probability distribution can affect the learning algorithm and how error measures can differ for different applications. He also discusses the algorithm for linear regression, the use of squared error versus absolute value for error measures in optimization, and the tradeoff between complexity and performance in machine learning models. The professor clarifies the difference between the input space and feature extraction and notes that the theory for how to simultaneously improve generalization and minimize error will be covered in the coming lectures.

  • 00:00:00 In this section, Professor Abu-Mostafa discusses the importance of error and noise when considering real-life problems in machine learning. He first revisits the concept of nonlinear transformation and how it helps to transform variables and preserve linearity in w, the weight vector, which is essential for the learning process. He then introduces the concept of error and noise in the learning diagram, acknowledging the practical considerations that arise in real-life situations. The lecture also includes an example of non-separable data that can be separated through a nonlinear transformation.

  • 00:05:00 In this section, a nonlinear transformation called phi is discussed where every point in the sample space x_n is put through the transformation and the corresponding point z_n is obtained in the feature space Z, which can be a highly nonlinear space. This allows for the data set to become linearly separable in the new feature space, which is then applied by simple linear model algorithms like linear regression or classification to get a separating boundary. However, when a test point is given, it is in the input space, so this point must be transformed using an inverse transformation to locate where it lies in the feature space to be classified accordingly. This procedure works well in any size of dimensions for any nonlinear transformation, but it is important to be careful with the transformation to avoid generalization problems.

  • 00:10:00 In this section, the instructor discusses the components of the supervised learning diagram and introduces the concept of error measures and noisy targets. He explains that the goal of error measures is to quantify how well or how badly a hypothesis approximates an unknown target function. The error measure is defined as E of two functions, and he emphasizes that it is a quantitative measure. He further states that noisy targets are a practical component of real-life learning problems that must be taken into consideration.

  • 00:15:00 In this section, the speaker explains how the error function is used to measure how well a hypothesis function approximates a target function in machine learning algorithms. The error function returns a number that is calculated by comparing the value of two functions at the same point. The pointwise definition is commonly used, and the average of pointwise errors is used to define the error function on the entire space. The in-sample error of the error function is the average of pointwise errors in the training set, while the out-of-sample error requires dividing the data into training and testing sets. The speaker emphasizes the importance of minimizing the error function in order to develop an accurate hypothesis function.

  • 00:20:00 In this section, the lecturer discusses the out-of-sample error, which is the out-of-sample version of an error measure. The expectation value is obtained by averaging all points in the input space X. The binary error is the probability of error overall, which is computed using the probability distribution over the input space X. The learning diagram is updated with the addition of the error measure, which is defined on a point-by-point basis. The error measure is defined in the context of fingerprint verification with two types of errors - false accept and false reject. When defining an error measure, each type of error is penalized to obtain a better hypothesis.

  • 00:25:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the concept of error and noise in fingerprint verification systems and how machine learning can be used to create a hypothesis for accepting or rejecting individuals based on their fingerprints. The speaker notes that there is no inherent merit to choosing one error function over another and that it depends on the application domain. For example, in the case of supermarkets, false rejects are costly as they may make customers frustrated and take their business elsewhere, while false accepts are not as big of a deal. However, in the case of the CIA, false accepts could potentially lead to security breaches, which makes them more costly than false rejects. Therefore, the error matrix needs to be adjusted based on the specific application.

  • 00:30:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of error measures in practical learning problems and explains that the error measure used should be specified by the user who will be using the imperfect system. He suggests that if the user can articulate a quantitative error function, then that is the error function to work with. However, when users don't give specific error functions, other plausible or friendly measures can be used. Plausible measures have analytic merits, while friendly measures are easy to use. The speaker modifies the learning diagram to introduce the error measure, which is crucial in making it clear what the system is supposed to learn.

  • 00:35:00 In this section, the focus is on the error measure and its role in the learning algorithm. The error measure has two main functions: to evaluate the final hypothesis and approximate the target function, and to feed the error measure to the learning algorithm to minimize the in-sample error. Additionally, noisy targets are introduced as the norm for real-life problems. The target function is not always a function and can be affected by noise from unaccounted information and circumstances, which makes it probabilistic rather than deterministic. A target distribution is used instead of a target function, where y is generated by the probability distribution given x, representing probabilistic dependence. The concept of noisy targets is addressed by introducing the idea of a deterministic target function plus noise, and this approach is used to simplify the notion of a target distribution.

  • 00:40:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the concept of noise in machine learning and how it can impact the learning process. The target function is defined as the expected value of y given x, with the remaining part called noise. If the target function is not well-defined, it can be posed as a probability distribution, and the noisy targets can be represented as a conditional probability distribution of y given x. The learning diagram for supervised learning includes the noisy targets, and the distinction is made between the probabilities of x and y given x. Despite the complexities involved, the speaker notes that every component in the learning diagram has a reason for being there.

  • 00:45:00 In this section, the speaker explains the concept of the target distribution, which is the probability distribution of creditworthiness given the input, and emphasizes that it is what you are trying to learn through supervised learning. The input distribution, on the other hand, plays the role of quantifying the relative importance of the input in the target distribution, but it is not what you are trying to learn. The speaker also cautions that mixing the two distributions, which can be done in theory, can cause confusion about the true target distribution. Lastly, the speaker introduces the theory of learning, which aims to approximate the target distribution and emphasizes its importance in gaining insight and acquiring secondary tools.

  • 00:50:00 In this section, the lecturer explains that the out-of-sample error for a function g should be close to zero, as this means good generalization. However, since this quantity is impossible to know, we can use the in-sample error as a proxy for the out-of-sample error, so long as we have the right checks in place. The full story of learning involves two questions: can we make sure the out-of-sample performance is close enough to the in-sample performance (a theoretical question), and can we make the in-sample error small enough (a practical question)? The lecturer notes that in some applications, it is impossible to get an out-of-sample performance close to zero, such as in financial forecasting where there is purely noisy data. Despite this, hedge funds can still make money by exploiting a bit of inefficiency.

  • 00:55:00 In this section of the lecture, the professor discusses the importance of the out-of-sample error and the theory that will be covered in the next two weeks. The theory deals with understanding the in-sample error, out-of-sample error, and model complexity, and formal definitions will be given to evaluate these factors. The main goal of the theory is to characterize the feasibility of learning for cases where the hypothesis set is infinite, like the perceptron and linear regression models. The theory will measure the model by a single parameter that reflects the model's sophistication, which will help make a lot of difference in practical learning. The professor also answers one question, discussing the relative impact of P of x in the learning algorithm.

  • 01:00:00 In this section, the professor discusses how changes in the probability distribution can affect the learning algorithm, particularly in the choice of learning examples. The professor explains that the probability distribution of the input plays a technical role, but its emphasis on certain parts of the space over others can affect the choices made by the algorithm. Regarding the best way to choose between N pairs of x and y or N y's per x, the professor suggests getting them independently rather than for the same input to avoid dealing with a very specific part of the input space and improve generalization. Finally, the professor notes that there is a way to measure poor generalization or good generalization, which will be part of the theory.

  • 01:05:00 In this section, the professor explains that error measures can be different for different application domains, even for the same system and same training data. He gives examples of how the right balance between false accept and false reject can differ for a supermarket and the CIA. The professor also clarifies that the structure of the probability of x (P(x)) is not a concern in supervised learning, as long as the same distribution is used for training and testing. He further explains that any probability distribution will suffice for purposes of invoking the probabilistic approach to the learning problem. Finally, the professor acknowledges a request to simplify the case of a squared error measure and closed-form solution, which he will cover in the review.

  • 01:10:00 In this section, the professor discusses how the algorithm for linear regression was derived based on minimizing squared error, resulting in a simple closed-form solution. He also explains how an imbalance in the probability of y affects the learning process and that rewards and costs are equivalent. In addition, he clarifies that when referring to the input space in machine learning, it includes all possible points only in terms of their input parts, while feature extraction involves processing the input to remove irrelevant information. Principal component analysis is another method for detecting informative directions in the input representation space.

  • 01:15:00 In this section of the lecture, the professor discusses the use of the squared error measure versus the absolute value for error measures in optimization. He explains that squared error is a smooth function and has many desirable properties, whereas the absolute value is not smooth and can result in combinatorial optimization. However, if using the absolute value is necessary for a specific merit, it can still be used. Additionally, he clarifies that the target is the function f of x, not w transposed x, and that noise is the difference between y and the expected value of y given a specific x. Lastly, the professor notes that there is a tradeoff between complexity and performance in machine learning models, but answers to how to simultaneously improve the generalization and minimize error will be covered in the next four lectures.
Lecture 04 - Error and Noise
Lecture 04 - Error and Noise
  • 2012.04.15
  • www.youtube.com
Error and Noise - The principled choice of error measures. What happens when the target we want to learn is noisy. Lecture 4 of 18 of Caltech's Machine Learn...
 

Lecture 5 - Training Versus Testing



Caltech's Machine Learning Course - CS 156. Lecture 05 - Training Versus Testing

In Lecture 5 of his course on Learning From Data, Professor Abu-Mostafa discusses the concepts of error and noise in machine learning, the difference between training and testing, and the growth function, which measures the maximum number of dichotomies that can be produced by a hypothesis set for a given number of points. He also introduces the break point, which corresponds to the complexity of a hypothesis set and guarantees a polynomial growth rate in N if it exists, and discusses various examples of hypothesis sets such as positive rays, intervals, and convex sets. The lecture emphasizes the importance of understanding these concepts and their mathematical frameworks in order to fully comprehend the complexity of hypothesis sets and their potential for feasible learning.

The professor covered various topics related to training versus testing. He addressed questions from the audience about non-binary target and hypotheses functions and the tradeoff of shattering points. The professor explained the importance of finding a growth function and why it is preferred over using 2 to the power of N to measure the probability of generalization being high. Additionally, he discussed the relationship between the break point and the learning situation, noting that the existence of the break point means that learning is feasible, while the value of the break point tells us the resources needed to achieve a certain performance. Finally, the professor explained the alternatives to Hoeffding and why he is sticking to it to ensure people become familiar with it.

  • 00:00:00 In this section, Professor Abu-Mostafa discusses the concepts of error and noise and how they relate to machine learning in practical situations. He explains the importance of defining error measures and how they are used to determine the performance of a hypothesis versus a target function. Additionally, he discusses the concept of noisy targets, where the target is not a deterministic function, but rather is affected by x and is distributed according to a probability distribution. Professor Abu-Mostafa also introduces the theory track that will last for the next three lectures, focusing on training versus testing and the mathematical framework that describes it in a realistic way.

  • 00:05:00 In this section, the lecturer explores the difference between training and testing in the context of a final exam. The practice problems and solutions provided before the final exam serve as the training set. The final exam serves as the testing set. The lecturer emphasizes that the goal is not to perform well on the final exam, but to understand the material, which is reflected in a small E_out. The mathematical description of testing involves how well one performed on the final exam, while the mathematical description of training involves how one performed on the practice problems. The contamination of the practice set results in a degraded performance on the E_in metric. The lecturer emphasizes the need to replace the M quantity with a more friendly one in measuring the complexity of hypothesis sets.

  • 00:10:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of understanding where a hypothesis, M, comes from and the context surrounding it in order to replace it. The speaker explains that there are bad events that are called B, and the objective is to avoid the situation where the in-sample performance does not track the out-of-sample performance. The goal is to ensure that the probability of any of the bad events is small, regardless of correlations between events. The speaker then goes on to explain the perceptron example and how to define the bad event in terms of a picture to ensure a better bound.

  • 00:15:00 In this section, the lecturer discusses the concepts of E_in and E_out, which represent the in-sample and out-of-sample errors for a hypothesis, respectively. He then examines how the changes in E_in and E_out compare when moving from one hypothesis to another, arguing that they are small and move in the same direction due to the area of overlap between the hypotheses. The lecturer suggests that M, the previous measure of complexity, can be replaced with a new quantity that characterizes the complexity of any model, but this will require a proof in the next lecture. He introduces the quantity and emphasizes the need to understand it well before proceeding to the proof.

  • 00:20:00 In this section, the lecturer explains what dichotomies are and how they relate to hypotheses. Dichotomies are multiple hypotheses defined only on a subset of the points, and they represent the different possible patterns of red and blue on a finite set of data points. For example, if there are only a few dichotomies, the hypothesis set is not powerful, but if there are many, the hypothesis set is strong. The lecturer describes dichotomies as an opaque sheet of paper with holes on them, placed on top of the input space, showing only the pattern of red and blue points. Dichotomies are a formal way of expressing hypotheses, where the function produces either -1 or +1 for the blue and red regions.

  • 00:25:00 In this section, the lecturer discusses the number of hypotheses and dichotomies in the case of the perceptron. He explains that there can be an infinite number of hypotheses due to the perceptron having infinite values. However, the number of dichotomies is limited as there are only a finite amount of points to return +1 or -1 on. The growth function, denoted by "m," replaces the number of hypotheses by counting the most dichotomies that one can get using their hypothesis set on any N points. The lecturer mentions that the growth function is calculated by maximizing the number of dichotomies with respect to any choice of N points from the input space.

  • 00:30:00 In this section, the lecturer explains the notion of growth function and how it applies to perceptrons. The growth function of a hypothesis set is a function that tells you the maximum number of dichotomies that can be produced for a given number of points. For perceptrons, getting the growth function is challenging because it requires finding the growth function for every number of points, starting from one. Additionally, for each number of points, there are certain constellations of points that a perceptron cannot generate. Nonetheless, these limitations are expected because perceptrons are simple models with a simple algorithm.

  • 00:35:00 In this section, the lecturer discusses the concept of growth functions by using examples of different models including positive rays and positive intervals. He explains that the growth function for positive rays is N+1, which means the number of dichotomies is dependent on the number of line segments possible between N points. Meanwhile, positive intervals have a larger growth function because two parameters, the beginning and end of the interval, can be varied in order to obtain different dichotomies.

  • 00:40:00 In this section, the lecturer discusses growth functions for hypothesis sets with varying degrees of complexity. For the simplest hypothesis set of dichotomies in a line, the growth function formula is simply the number of ways to choose 2 segments out of the N+1 segments, which is equivalent to (N+1) choose 2. For the next hypothesis set of convex regions in a plane, the lecturer notes that some regions are invalid because they are not convex. The growth function formula for this set requires more complicated counting since not all dichotomies are valid. The lecturer then proposes an optimal choice for point placement, which is on the perimeter of a circle, to maximize the growth function for this hypothesis set.

  • 00:45:00 In this section, the lecturer discusses the growth function for convex sets and how it is not as powerful as the growth function for positive intervals. The lecturer shows how the growth function works for each of the hypotheses. They also discuss how to replace the maximum M with a finite number m, which can be the growth function. The lecturer concludes that if the growth function is a polynomial, then learning is feasible using that hypothesis. However, the lecturer admits that it is not easy to evaluate the growth function explicitly.

  • 00:50:00 In this section, the concept of break point is introduced to define the point at which a hypothesis set fails to get all possible dichotomies. The break point corresponds to the complexity of the hypothesis set, and if no data set of size k can be shattered by the hypothesis set, then k is a break point for it. The break point for the 2D perceptron is found to be 4. The lecture also covers the examples of positive rays, intervals and convex sets to explain how to find the break point for each hypothesis set. Additionally, it is established that if a hypothesis set does not have a break point, then it will have infinite growth.

  • 00:55:00 In this section, the professor explains the concept of the growth function and how it guarantees a polynomial growth rate in N if a break point exists. With the constraint of a break point, there is an enormous combinatorial restriction that eliminates possible dichotomies in droves, reducing the unrestricted 2 to the N growth function to polynomial. The professor gives an example of a three-point hypothesis set with a break point of two, where the dichotomies are limited, and violators are removed until only one dichotomy remains, which satisfies the constraint.

  • 01:00:00 In this section, the professor answers questions from the audience about non-binary target and hypotheses functions and the tradeoff of shattering points. He explains that the theory he is developing is manageable for binary functions, but there is a counterpart for real-valued functions that is more technical, which he will cover through the bias-variance tradeoff method. In terms of shattering points, he states that it is good for fitting the data but bad for generalization, and finding the right balance between approximation and generalization is key. Additionally, he clarifies the importance of polynomial growth and how it guarantees small probabilities of something bad happening.

  • 01:05:00 In this section, the professor discusses a puzzle where 3 bits are put on every row and attempts are made to get as many different rows as possible under the constraint that two points cannot be shattered. The professor goes through the exercise of adding rows and keeping an eye on all possible combinations to avoid violating the constraint. By the end, the professor concludes that only four possible patterns can be achieved under this constraint, and more rows cannot be added. This limitation is due to the fact that the number of hypotheses is infinity for perceptrons, and the growth function is either identically 2 to the N or polynomial, with nothing in between.

  • 01:10:00 In this section of the lecture, the professor discusses the importance of finding a growth function and why it is preferred over using 2 to the power of N to measure the probability of generalization being high. The professor explains that finding a polynomial growth function would yield a manageable right-hand side and would lead to the probability of generalization being high. The professor also answers questions from students about the number of testing and training points, the out-of-sample error for different hypotheses, and why it is called a growth function. The professor notes that there are different methods for finding a growth function, and sometimes the estimate for the break point will be just an estimate and not an exact value.

  • 01:15:00 In this section, the professor discusses the relationship between the break point and the learning situation. He explains that the existence of the break point means that learning is feasible, while the value of the break point tells us the resources needed to achieve a certain performance. He also touches upon the alternatives to Hoeffding and why he is sticking to it. The goal is for people to become so familiar with Hoeffding that they know it cold, so that when modifications are introduced, they won't get lost.
Lecture 05 - Training Versus Testing
Lecture 05 - Training Versus Testing
  • 2012.04.19
  • www.youtube.com
Training versus Testing - The difference between training and testing in mathematical terms. What makes a learning model able to generalize? Lecture 5 of 18 ...