Sparse Bayesian Neural Networks: Bridging Model and Parameter Uncertainty through Scalable Variational Inference

Bayesian neural networks (BNNs) have recently regained a significant amount of attention in the deep learning community due to the development of scalable approximate Bayesian inference techniques. There are several advantages of using a Bayesian approach: parameter and prediction uncertainties beco...

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Main Authors: Aliaksandr Hubin, Geir Storvik
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-03-01
Series:Mathematics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/12/6/788
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author Aliaksandr Hubin
Geir Storvik
author_facet Aliaksandr Hubin
Geir Storvik
author_sort Aliaksandr Hubin
collection DOAJ
description Bayesian neural networks (BNNs) have recently regained a significant amount of attention in the deep learning community due to the development of scalable approximate Bayesian inference techniques. There are several advantages of using a Bayesian approach: parameter and prediction uncertainties become easily available, facilitating more rigorous statistical analysis. Furthermore, prior knowledge can be incorporated. However, the construction of scalable techniques that combine both structural and parameter uncertainty remains a challenge. In this paper, we apply the concept of model uncertainty as a framework for structural learning in BNNs and, hence, make inferences in the joint space of structures/models and parameters. Moreover, we suggest an adaptation of a scalable variational inference approach with reparametrization of marginal inclusion probabilities to incorporate the model space constraints. Experimental results on a range of benchmark datasets show that we obtain comparable accuracy results with the competing models, but based on methods that are much more sparse than ordinary BNNs.
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spelling doaj.art-20b23baa56d8408ca1892bed2a24418a2024-03-27T13:52:54ZengMDPI AGMathematics2227-73902024-03-0112678810.3390/math12060788Sparse Bayesian Neural Networks: Bridging Model and Parameter Uncertainty through Scalable Variational InferenceAliaksandr Hubin0Geir Storvik1Bioinformatics and Applied Statistics, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1433 Ås, NorwayDepartment of Mathematics, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, NorwayBayesian neural networks (BNNs) have recently regained a significant amount of attention in the deep learning community due to the development of scalable approximate Bayesian inference techniques. There are several advantages of using a Bayesian approach: parameter and prediction uncertainties become easily available, facilitating more rigorous statistical analysis. Furthermore, prior knowledge can be incorporated. However, the construction of scalable techniques that combine both structural and parameter uncertainty remains a challenge. In this paper, we apply the concept of model uncertainty as a framework for structural learning in BNNs and, hence, make inferences in the joint space of structures/models and parameters. Moreover, we suggest an adaptation of a scalable variational inference approach with reparametrization of marginal inclusion probabilities to incorporate the model space constraints. Experimental results on a range of benchmark datasets show that we obtain comparable accuracy results with the competing models, but based on methods that are much more sparse than ordinary BNNs.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/12/6/788Bayesian neural networksstructural learningmodel selectionmodel averagingapproximate Bayesian inferencepredictive uncertainty
spellingShingle Aliaksandr Hubin
Geir Storvik
Sparse Bayesian Neural Networks: Bridging Model and Parameter Uncertainty through Scalable Variational Inference
Mathematics
Bayesian neural networks
structural learning
model selection
model averaging
approximate Bayesian inference
predictive uncertainty
title Sparse Bayesian Neural Networks: Bridging Model and Parameter Uncertainty through Scalable Variational Inference
title_full Sparse Bayesian Neural Networks: Bridging Model and Parameter Uncertainty through Scalable Variational Inference
title_fullStr Sparse Bayesian Neural Networks: Bridging Model and Parameter Uncertainty through Scalable Variational Inference
title_full_unstemmed Sparse Bayesian Neural Networks: Bridging Model and Parameter Uncertainty through Scalable Variational Inference
title_short Sparse Bayesian Neural Networks: Bridging Model and Parameter Uncertainty through Scalable Variational Inference
title_sort sparse bayesian neural networks bridging model and parameter uncertainty through scalable variational inference
topic Bayesian neural networks
structural learning
model selection
model averaging
approximate Bayesian inference
predictive uncertainty
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/12/6/788
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