Noisy distributed learning on noisy data: A unified mathematical framework for dealing with arbitrary noise
Assistant Professor Ernest Chong Kai Fong
Singapore University of Technology and Design
Project Description
The goal of this project is to develop a unified mathematical framework for dealing with arbitrary noise in a distributed network of autonomous AI systems. We shall consider arbitrary noise not just in datasets, but also in the model parameters of AI models. The scope of our project is inspired by fundamental technical challenges that must be resolved before personalized AI systems are able to interact and learn from one another (e.g. exchange AI model parameters), without any unintended failures due to noise. Specifically, we shall build a comprehensive theory for the trustworthiness of data and AI models, develop general methods for noise detection tiered by user-selected thresholds, and design robust systems for noisy distributed learning on noisy data that are computationally efficient. We shall deal with all types of noise, whether known or unknown, via a “universal” approach.
Research Technical Areas
Heuristic search and optimization
Knowledge representation and reasoning
Machine learning
Benefits to the society
Imagine that in the near future, every individual has a personalized AI system that can learn directly from user-generated data, as well as interact and learn from other AI systems in an autonomous manner. Ideally, such a personalized AI system should be robust to inherently noisy real-world data. It should be able to distinguish information from misinformation. It should also be resilient to adversarial noise, especially when downloading external AI model parameters from other potentially compromised AI systems. Our project tackles all these technical challenges, so as to pave the way for such personalized AI systems, which would ultimately unlock an entire exciting new ecosystem in personalized AI.
Team's Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor Ernest Chong Kai Fong
Singapore University of Technology and Design
Introduction of the Principal Investigator
Ernest Chong is an assistant professor in the Information Systems Technology and Design pillar at Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). He obtained his bachelor degree in Mathematics (summa cum laude) from Cornell University in 2009, and his PhD in Mathematics from Cornell University in 2015. His current research deals with both Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Within AI, his primary interests are theoretical and computational aspects of deep learning; and unsupervised and semi-supervised learning. He is also particularly interested in developing an algebraic theory for deep learning that incorporates methods from computational commutative algebra.
Recent Notable Awards
- Eleanor Norton York Award, 2014
- NRF-ISF Singapore-Israel joint research grant award, 2017
Team
Co-Principal Investigator
Associate Professor Tony Quek
Singapore University of Technology and Design
Research Areas:
- Heuristic search and optimization
- Machine Learning
- Edge computing
- Network Intelligence
Collaborator
Assistant Professor Shaowei Lin, Singapore University of Technology and Design
Research Interests: Cognitive modelling and systems, knowledge representation and reasoning, machine learning