Laplace Approximation for Bayesian Tensor Network Kernel Machines

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Saiapin, Albert, Batselier, Kim
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Saiapin, Albert
Batselier, Kim
author_facet Saiapin, Albert
Batselier, Kim
contents Uncertainty estimation is essential for robust decision-making in the presence of ambiguous or out-of-distribution inputs. Gaussian Processes (GPs) are classical kernel-based models that offer principled uncertainty quantification and perform well on small- to medium-scale datasets. Alternatively, formulating the weight space learning problem under tensor network assumptions yields scalable tensor network kernel machines. However, these assumptions break Gaussianity, complicating standard probabilistic inference. This raises a fundamental question: how can tensor network kernel machines provide principled uncertainty estimates? We propose a novel Bayesian Tensor Network Kernel Machine (LA-TNKM) that employs a (linearized) Laplace approximation for Bayesian inference. A comprehensive set of numerical experiments shows that the proposed method consistently matches or surpasses Gaussian Processes and Bayesian Neural Networks (BNNs) across diverse UCI regression benchmarks, highlighting both its effectiveness and practical relevance.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_26673
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Laplace Approximation for Bayesian Tensor Network Kernel Machines
Saiapin, Albert
Batselier, Kim
Machine Learning
Uncertainty estimation is essential for robust decision-making in the presence of ambiguous or out-of-distribution inputs. Gaussian Processes (GPs) are classical kernel-based models that offer principled uncertainty quantification and perform well on small- to medium-scale datasets. Alternatively, formulating the weight space learning problem under tensor network assumptions yields scalable tensor network kernel machines. However, these assumptions break Gaussianity, complicating standard probabilistic inference. This raises a fundamental question: how can tensor network kernel machines provide principled uncertainty estimates? We propose a novel Bayesian Tensor Network Kernel Machine (LA-TNKM) that employs a (linearized) Laplace approximation for Bayesian inference. A comprehensive set of numerical experiments shows that the proposed method consistently matches or surpasses Gaussian Processes and Bayesian Neural Networks (BNNs) across diverse UCI regression benchmarks, highlighting both its effectiveness and practical relevance.
title Laplace Approximation for Bayesian Tensor Network Kernel Machines
topic Machine Learning
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.26673