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Main Authors: Wyllie, Sierra, Shumailov, Ilia, Papernot, Nicolas
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.07857
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author Wyllie, Sierra
Shumailov, Ilia
Papernot, Nicolas
author_facet Wyllie, Sierra
Shumailov, Ilia
Papernot, Nicolas
contents Model-induced distribution shifts (MIDS) occur as previous model outputs pollute new model training sets over generations of models. This is known as model collapse in the case of generative models, and performative prediction or unfairness feedback loops for supervised models. When a model induces a distribution shift, it also encodes its mistakes, biases, and unfairnesses into the ground truth of its data ecosystem. We introduce a framework that allows us to track multiple MIDS over many generations, finding that they can lead to loss in performance, fairness, and minoritized group representation, even in initially unbiased datasets. Despite these negative consequences, we identify how models might be used for positive, intentional, interventions in their data ecosystems, providing redress for historical discrimination through a framework called algorithmic reparation (AR). We simulate AR interventions by curating representative training batches for stochastic gradient descent to demonstrate how AR can improve upon the unfairnesses of models and data ecosystems subject to other MIDS. Our work takes an important step towards identifying, mitigating, and taking accountability for the unfair feedback loops enabled by the idea that ML systems are inherently neutral and objective.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2403_07857
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Fairness Feedback Loops: Training on Synthetic Data Amplifies Bias
Wyllie, Sierra
Shumailov, Ilia
Papernot, Nicolas
Machine Learning
Model-induced distribution shifts (MIDS) occur as previous model outputs pollute new model training sets over generations of models. This is known as model collapse in the case of generative models, and performative prediction or unfairness feedback loops for supervised models. When a model induces a distribution shift, it also encodes its mistakes, biases, and unfairnesses into the ground truth of its data ecosystem. We introduce a framework that allows us to track multiple MIDS over many generations, finding that they can lead to loss in performance, fairness, and minoritized group representation, even in initially unbiased datasets. Despite these negative consequences, we identify how models might be used for positive, intentional, interventions in their data ecosystems, providing redress for historical discrimination through a framework called algorithmic reparation (AR). We simulate AR interventions by curating representative training batches for stochastic gradient descent to demonstrate how AR can improve upon the unfairnesses of models and data ecosystems subject to other MIDS. Our work takes an important step towards identifying, mitigating, and taking accountability for the unfair feedback loops enabled by the idea that ML systems are inherently neutral and objective.
title Fairness Feedback Loops: Training on Synthetic Data Amplifies Bias
topic Machine Learning
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.07857