Asymptotically Optimal Generalization Error Bounds for Noisy, Iterative Algorithms

We adopt an information-theoretic framework to analyze the generalization behavior of the class of iterative, noisy learning algorithms. This class is particularly suitable for study under information-theoretic metrics as the algorithms are inherently randomized, and it includes commonly used algorithms such as Stochastic Gradient Langevin Dynamics (SGLD). Herein, we use the maximal leakage (equivalently, the Sibson mutual information of order infinity) metric, as it is simple to analyze, and it implies both bounds on the probability of having a large generalization error and on its expected value. We show that, if the update function (e.g., gradient) is bounded in $L_2$-norm, then adding isotropic Gaussian noise leads to optimal generalization bounds: indeed, the input and output of the learning algorithm in this case are asymptotically statistically independent. Furthermore, we demonstrate how the assumptions on the update function affect the optimal (in the sense of minimizing the induced maximal leakage) choice of the noise. Finally, we compute explicit tight upper bounds on the induced maximal leakage for several scenarios of interest.

Robust Generalization via $α$-Mutual Information

The aim of this work is to provide bounds connecting two probability measures of the same event using R\'enyi $\alpha$-Divergences and Sibson's $\alpha$-Mutual Information, a generalization of respectively the Kullback-Leibler Divergence and Shannon's Mutual Information. A particular case of interest can be found when the two probability measures considered are a joint distribution and the corresponding product of marginals (representing the statistically independent scenario). In this case, a bound using Sibson's $\alpha-$Mutual Information is retrieved, extending a result involving Maximal Leakage to general alphabets. These results have broad applications, from bounding the generalization error of learning algorithms to the more general framework of adaptive data analysis, provided that the divergences and/or information measures used are amenable to such an analysis ({\it i.e.,} are robust to post-processing and compose adaptively). The generalization error bounds are derived with respect to high-probability events but a corresponding bound on expected generalization error is also retrieved.

Generalization Error Bounds Via Rényi-, $f$-Divergences and Maximal Leakage

In this work, the probability of an event under some joint distribution is bounded by measuring it with the product of the marginals instead (which is typically easier to analyze) together with a measure of the dependence between the two random variables. These results find applications in adaptive data analysis, where multiple dependencies are introduced and in learning theory, where they can be employed to bound the generalization error of a learning algorithm. Bounds are given in terms of $\alpha-$Divergence, Sibson's Mutual Information and $f-$Divergence. A case of particular interest is the Maximal Leakage (or Sibson's Mutual Information of order infinity) since this measure is robust to post-processing and composes adaptively. This bound can also be seen as a generalization of classical bounds, such as Hoeffding's and McDiarmid's inequalities, to the case of dependent random variables.

A New Approach to Adaptive Data Analysis and Learning via Maximal Leakage

There is an increasing concern that most current published research findings are false. The main cause seems to lie in the fundamental disconnection between theory and practice in data analysis. While the former typically relies on statistical independence, the latter is an inherently adaptive process: new hypotheses are formulated based on the outcomes of previous analyses. A recent line of work tries to mitigate these issues by enforcing constraints, such as differential privacy, that compose adaptively while degrading gracefully and thus provide statistical guarantees even in adaptive contexts. Our contribution consists in the introduction of a new approach, based on the concept of Maximal Leakage, an information-theoretic measure of leakage of information. The main result allows us to compare the probability of an event happening when adaptivity is considered with respect to the non-adaptive scenario. The bound we derive represents a generalization of the bounds used in non-adaptive scenarios (e.g., McDiarmid's inequality for $c$-sensitive functions, false discovery error control via significance level, etc.), and allows us to replicate or even improve, in certain regimes, the results obtained using Max-Information or Differential Privacy. In contrast with the line of work started by Dwork et al., our results do not rely on Differential Privacy but are, in principle, applicable to every algorithm that has a bounded leakage, including the differentially private algorithms and the ones with a short description length.