Machine
intelligence has developed considerably in recent years. However, sometimes
even the most sophisticated platforms give nonsensical answers. A research team
have been delving into the ‘black box’ of AI to find out why.
Technologists from the University of
Maryland have been exploring machine learning algorithms to work out how they
function and with a view to addressing errors. Previous approaches to such
investigations have aimed to 'break' the algorithms in ways that involved
taking out key words from inputs, so that the wrong answer is produced.
Taking an
alternative route, the computer scientists decided to reduce the inputs down to
the minimum required to yield the correct answer. This demonstrated that the
correct answer could be obtained with an input of less than three words.
As an example, the scientists
presented an algorithm with a photo of a sunflower and asked the question:
'What color is the flower?' This generated the correct answer (in this case
'yellow.') The scientists then discovered found the correct answer of ‘yellow’
could be produced by asking the algorithm a single-word question: 'Flower?'
With a second and
more complex case, the scientists used the prompt, "In 1899, John Jacob
Astor IV invested $100,000 for Tesla to further develop and produce a new
lighting system. Instead, Tesla used the money to fund his Colorado Springs
experiments."
Following this the
researchers questioned the algorithm with: "What did Tesla spend Astor's
money on?" This led to the correct answer: "Colorado Springs
experiments." However, they also found that reducing the input to the
single word "did" also generated the same correct answer.
These types of
studies showed that keeping algorithms
simple not only saves time but avoided the
issues that can arise from algorithms producing the wrong answer, which the
researchers attribute to over-complexity. This is partly because most
algorithms are compelled to provide an answer, even where there is insufficient
or conflicting data.
For the simpler
approach to work, the input word did not need to have an obvious connection to
the answer. This reveals how some algorithms react to specific language in a
way that is different to people.
It is hoped that
the research will help computer scientists to create more effective algorithms,
including machines that can recognize their own limitations.
The research was presented to the 2018 Conference on Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing, which took place in Brussels, Belgium during
November 2018.
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