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Main Authors: Ataei, Masoud, Hasaj, Edrin, Gipp, Jacob, Forouzi, Sepideh
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.14356
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author Ataei, Masoud
Hasaj, Edrin
Gipp, Jacob
Forouzi, Sepideh
author_facet Ataei, Masoud
Hasaj, Edrin
Gipp, Jacob
Forouzi, Sepideh
contents This paper presents a unified mixed-integer programming framework for training sparse and interpretable neural networks. We develop exact formulations for both fully connected and convolutional architectures by modeling nonlinearities such as ReLU activations through binary variables and encoding structural sparsity via filter- and layer-level pruning constraints. The resulting models integrate parameter learning, architecture selection, and structural regularization within a single optimization problem, yielding globally optimal solutions with respect to a composite objective that balances prediction accuracy, weight sparsity, and architectural compactness. The mixed-integer programming formulation accommodates piecewise-linear operations, including max pooling and activation gating, and permits precise enforcement of logic-based or domain-specific constraints. By incorporating considerations of interpretability, sparsity, and verifiability directly into the training process, the proposed framework bridges a range of research areas including explainable artificial intelligence, symbolic reasoning, and formal verification.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2504_14356
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Mathematical Programming Models for Exact and Interpretable Formulation of Neural Networks
Ataei, Masoud
Hasaj, Edrin
Gipp, Jacob
Forouzi, Sepideh
Artificial Intelligence
Optimization and Control
This paper presents a unified mixed-integer programming framework for training sparse and interpretable neural networks. We develop exact formulations for both fully connected and convolutional architectures by modeling nonlinearities such as ReLU activations through binary variables and encoding structural sparsity via filter- and layer-level pruning constraints. The resulting models integrate parameter learning, architecture selection, and structural regularization within a single optimization problem, yielding globally optimal solutions with respect to a composite objective that balances prediction accuracy, weight sparsity, and architectural compactness. The mixed-integer programming formulation accommodates piecewise-linear operations, including max pooling and activation gating, and permits precise enforcement of logic-based or domain-specific constraints. By incorporating considerations of interpretability, sparsity, and verifiability directly into the training process, the proposed framework bridges a range of research areas including explainable artificial intelligence, symbolic reasoning, and formal verification.
title Mathematical Programming Models for Exact and Interpretable Formulation of Neural Networks
topic Artificial Intelligence
Optimization and Control
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.14356