High Confidence Level Inference is Almost Free using Parallel Stochastic Optimization

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Zhu, Wanrong, Lou, Zhipeng, Wei, Ziyang, Wu, Wei Biao
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Zhu, Wanrong
Lou, Zhipeng
Wei, Ziyang
Wu, Wei Biao
author_facet Zhu, Wanrong
Lou, Zhipeng
Wei, Ziyang
Wu, Wei Biao
contents Uncertainty quantification for estimation through stochastic optimization solutions in an online setting has gained popularity recently. This paper introduces a novel inference method focused on constructing confidence intervals with efficient computation and fast convergence to the nominal level. Specifically, we propose to use a small number of independent multi-runs to acquire distribution information and construct a t-based confidence interval. Our method requires minimal additional computation and memory beyond the standard updating of estimates, making the inference process almost cost-free. We provide a rigorous theoretical guarantee for the confidence interval, demonstrating that the coverage is approximately exact with an explicit convergence rate and allowing for high confidence level inference. In particular, a new Gaussian approximation result is developed for the online estimators to characterize the coverage properties of our confidence intervals in terms of relative errors. Additionally, our method also allows for leveraging parallel computing to further accelerate calculations using multiple cores. It is easy to implement and can be integrated with existing stochastic algorithms without the need for complicated modifications.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2401_09346
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle High Confidence Level Inference is Almost Free using Parallel Stochastic Optimization
Zhu, Wanrong
Lou, Zhipeng
Wei, Ziyang
Wu, Wei Biao
Machine Learning
Uncertainty quantification for estimation through stochastic optimization solutions in an online setting has gained popularity recently. This paper introduces a novel inference method focused on constructing confidence intervals with efficient computation and fast convergence to the nominal level. Specifically, we propose to use a small number of independent multi-runs to acquire distribution information and construct a t-based confidence interval. Our method requires minimal additional computation and memory beyond the standard updating of estimates, making the inference process almost cost-free. We provide a rigorous theoretical guarantee for the confidence interval, demonstrating that the coverage is approximately exact with an explicit convergence rate and allowing for high confidence level inference. In particular, a new Gaussian approximation result is developed for the online estimators to characterize the coverage properties of our confidence intervals in terms of relative errors. Additionally, our method also allows for leveraging parallel computing to further accelerate calculations using multiple cores. It is easy to implement and can be integrated with existing stochastic algorithms without the need for complicated modifications.
title High Confidence Level Inference is Almost Free using Parallel Stochastic Optimization
topic Machine Learning
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.09346