Quantization Avoids Saddle Points in Distributed Optimization

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Bo, Yanan, Wang, Yongqiang
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2024
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author Bo, Yanan
Wang, Yongqiang
author_facet Bo, Yanan
Wang, Yongqiang
contents Distributed nonconvex optimization underpins key functionalities of numerous distributed systems, ranging from power systems, smart buildings, cooperative robots, vehicle networks to sensor networks. Recently, it has also merged as a promising solution to handle the enormous growth in data and model sizes in deep learning. A fundamental problem in distributed nonconvex optimization is avoiding convergence to saddle points, which significantly degrade optimization accuracy. We discover that the process of quantization, which is necessary for all digital communications, can be exploited to enable saddle-point avoidance. More specifically, we propose a stochastic quantization scheme and prove that it can effectively escape saddle points and ensure convergence to a second-order stationary point in distributed nonconvex optimization. With an easily adjustable quantization granularity, the approach allows a user to control the number of bits sent per iteration and, hence, to aggressively reduce the communication overhead. Numerical experimental results using distributed optimization and learning problems on benchmark datasets confirm the effectiveness of the approach.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2403_10423
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Quantization Avoids Saddle Points in Distributed Optimization
Bo, Yanan
Wang, Yongqiang
Optimization and Control
Machine Learning
Distributed nonconvex optimization underpins key functionalities of numerous distributed systems, ranging from power systems, smart buildings, cooperative robots, vehicle networks to sensor networks. Recently, it has also merged as a promising solution to handle the enormous growth in data and model sizes in deep learning. A fundamental problem in distributed nonconvex optimization is avoiding convergence to saddle points, which significantly degrade optimization accuracy. We discover that the process of quantization, which is necessary for all digital communications, can be exploited to enable saddle-point avoidance. More specifically, we propose a stochastic quantization scheme and prove that it can effectively escape saddle points and ensure convergence to a second-order stationary point in distributed nonconvex optimization. With an easily adjustable quantization granularity, the approach allows a user to control the number of bits sent per iteration and, hence, to aggressively reduce the communication overhead. Numerical experimental results using distributed optimization and learning problems on benchmark datasets confirm the effectiveness of the approach.
title Quantization Avoids Saddle Points in Distributed Optimization
topic Optimization and Control
Machine Learning
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.10423