arXiv Machine Learning

Fast rates in Bayesian online learning with approximate posteriors

The paper investigates how fast predictive regret guarantees of exact Bayesian online learning can be maintained when using approximate posterior methods. It establishes a general theorem linking the cumulative cost of posterior approximation to the contraction radius of the exact Gibbs posterior and the Wasserstein distance between approximate and exact posteriors. Three concrete online learning scenarios—linear models, infinite‑dimensional exponential families, and Gaussian process regression—illustrate that appropriately accurate approximations (projected Langevin, truncation, and sparse variational posteriors) preserve fast regret bounds while reducing computational demands.

arXiv Machine Learning
Aug 20

Fast Best-in-Class Regret for Contextual Bandits

The paper investigates stochastic contextual bandits in an agnostic setting, aiming to compete with the best policy in a given class without assuming realizability or specific loss/reward models. It introduces an algorithm that updates the policy each round by minimizing a pessimistic objective— a clipped inverse‑propensity estimate of the policy value plus a variance penalty— and proves the first fast regret rates relative to the best‑in‑class policy. By exploiting entropy assumptions on the policy class and a H"olderian error‑bound condition, the authors achieve fast best‑in‑class regret rates, including polylogarithmic rates in the parametric case, using a sequential self‑normalized maximal inequality for bounded martingale empirical processes to derive uniform variance‑adaptive confidence bounds and ensure pessimism under adaptive data collection.

By Samuel Girard, Aurelien Bibaut, Arthur Gretton, Nathan Kallus, Houssam Zenati
arXiv AI
Jun 9

SVRG and Beyond via Posterior Correction

arXiv:2512. 01930v2 Announce Type: replace-cross Abstract: Stochastic Variance Reduced Gradient (SVRG) and its variants aim to speed-up training by using gradient corrections.

By Nico Daheim, Thomas M\"ollenhoff, Ming Liang Ang, Mohammad Emtiyaz Khan