Untrained neural networks can demonstrate memorization-independent abstract reasoning

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Barak, Tomer, Loewenstein, Yonatan
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Barak, Tomer
Loewenstein, Yonatan
author_facet Barak, Tomer
Loewenstein, Yonatan
contents The nature of abstract reasoning is a matter of debate. Modern artificial neural network (ANN) models, like large language models, demonstrate impressive success when tested on abstract reasoning problems. However, it has been argued that their success reflects some form of memorization of similar problems (data contamination) rather than a general-purpose abstract reasoning capability. This concern is supported by evidence of brittleness, and the requirement of extensive training. In our study, we explored whether abstract reasoning can be achieved using the toolbox of ANNs, without prior training. Specifically, we studied an ANN model in which the weights of a naive network are optimized during the solution of the problem, using the problem data itself, rather than any prior knowledge. We tested this modeling approach on visual reasoning problems and found that it performs relatively well. Crucially, this success does not rely on memorization of similar problems. We further suggest an explanation of how it works. Finally, as problem solving is performed by changing the ANN weights, we explored the connection between problem solving and the accumulation of knowledge in the ANNs.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2407_17791
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Untrained neural networks can demonstrate memorization-independent abstract reasoning
Barak, Tomer
Loewenstein, Yonatan
Artificial Intelligence
Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
The nature of abstract reasoning is a matter of debate. Modern artificial neural network (ANN) models, like large language models, demonstrate impressive success when tested on abstract reasoning problems. However, it has been argued that their success reflects some form of memorization of similar problems (data contamination) rather than a general-purpose abstract reasoning capability. This concern is supported by evidence of brittleness, and the requirement of extensive training. In our study, we explored whether abstract reasoning can be achieved using the toolbox of ANNs, without prior training. Specifically, we studied an ANN model in which the weights of a naive network are optimized during the solution of the problem, using the problem data itself, rather than any prior knowledge. We tested this modeling approach on visual reasoning problems and found that it performs relatively well. Crucially, this success does not rely on memorization of similar problems. We further suggest an explanation of how it works. Finally, as problem solving is performed by changing the ANN weights, we explored the connection between problem solving and the accumulation of knowledge in the ANNs.
title Untrained neural networks can demonstrate memorization-independent abstract reasoning
topic Artificial Intelligence
Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.17791