arXiv Machine Learning

Drive vs. Decay: On the Training Dynamics of Joint-Embedding Predictive Architectures

The paper introduces a stability theory for Joint-Embedding Predictive Architectures (JEPAs), showing that training dynamics involve a driving force and a decay effect that determine representation collapse. By linearising the gradient flow, the authors derive a per‑mode stability ratio that separates data‑side and predictor‑side contributions, predicting a phase boundary confirmed across 800 configurations. Using this insight, they propose ResidualPred, a transformer predictor that biases attention toward the identity at initialization, improving representation rank and downstream accuracy on tabular and image benchmarks.

arXiv Machine Learning
Sep 23

A Spectral Theory of Grokking: Weight Decay induces Feature Learning

The paper presents a spectral theory explaining the phenomenon of grokking, where an initial fit to training data is followed by a delayed improvement in generalization. It shows that for homogeneous networks trained with squared loss and L₂ weight decay, residuals after memorization influence the neural tangent kernel (NTK) dynamics, leading to a transition from lazy to rich learning. The theory predicts that grokking timescales depend on the product of learning rate and weight decay, and that stronger decay can halt fitting, with empirical validation on modular addition tasks using MLPs and Transformers.

By Lenz Pracher, Pascal de Jong, Oskar Lieshaus, Alan Jeffares, Steffen Rulands
arXiv AI
Jun 18

Clin-JEPA: A Multi-Phase Co-Training Framework for Joint-Embedding Predictive Pretraining on EHR Patient Trajectories

arXiv:2605. 10840v3 Announce Type: replace-cross Abstract: We present Clin-JEPA, a multi-phase co-training framework for joint-embedding predictive (JEPA) pretraining on EHR patient trajectories.

By Yixuan Yang, Mehak Arora, Ryan Zhang, Baraa Abed, Junseob Kim, Tilendra Choudhary, Md Hassanuzzaman, Kevin Zhu, Ayman Ali, Chengkun Yang, Alasdair Edward Gent, Victor Moas, Rishikesan Kamaleswaran
arXiv Machine Learning
Sep 25

Beyond Compression: Training Latent Representations for Stable Long-Horizon Rollout in Neural Surrogate Solvers

The paper investigates why latent neural surrogate solvers, which compress physical system dynamics into a lower‑dimensional space, often fail during long‑horizon autoregressive rollouts. It demonstrates that training the latent representation only for reconstruction leads to instability, and proposes a set of training interventions—Koopman operator learning, Hamming noise injection, and multi‑step rollout fine‑tuning—that align the latent space with long‑horizon forecasting. These interventions reduce long‑rollout error by about 40 % and achieve accuracy comparable to full‑resolution models while using far fewer floating‑point operations and GPU memory, enabling stable extrapolation in mesoscale crystal‑plasticity simulations of high‑cycle fatigue.

By Andreas E. Robertson, Ashley T. Lenau, John D. Shimanek, Benjamin A. Jasperson, Vivek Oommen, David L. Damm, Krishna Garikipati, Remi Dingreville
arXiv AI
Jul 21

First-Order Predictable but Pairwise Fragile: Local Task Adaptation in Trained Transformers

arXiv:2607. 16821v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: Task arithmetic, sequential fine-tuning, activation steering, and first-order random search all operate through relatively small perturbations around an already trained checkpoint, and they rely on different local approximations: individual perturbations should be first-order predictable, task updates should compose with controlled interference, useful tangent structure should be stable and possible to estimate, and weight edits should have counterparts in representation space.

By Irina Piontkovskaia, Sergey Nikolenko