How to train more models within an app

This article summarizes how to train more models within an app in the AI & Analytics Engine, with different feature sets or algorithms.

Machine learning is a science of experiments. Before generating a satisfactory model, you normally need to train and compare multiple models with different feature sets and configurations. In this article, you will see how to train more models within an existing app on the Engine.

🎓 To learn more about model training, read what is the model training process.

Once an App is ready, click Train new models on the App Summary or Models page.

Option for training new models from App SummaryTrain new models from App Summary

Then you can see two steps involved in training more models:

  1. Select features

  2. Select algorithms

Step 1 – Select features

Creating a new feature set

The first step is to specify a feature set used as input for model training. In this step, you need to select which features to include as well as confirm the type for each selected feature. To make an informed decision, you can:

  • Check the basic information about a feature by clicking View

  • See which features have the most impact by clicking Estimate feature importance.

🎓 To learn more on the estimated feature importance scores, read what are estimated feature importance scores.

View analysis for each feature in the datasetView Analysis for each feature in the dataset

Once the estimation is done, you see that the features are sorted by the estimated importance scores. Alternatively, you can ask the Engine to choose the most significant features by the following steps:

  1. Clicking Select by feature importance

  2. Specifying a threshold for the total estimated importance.

Estimated importanceFeatures sorted by estimated importance

Re-using an existing feature set

In the case that you want to compare different algorithms, it is necessary to use the same feature set for all models. To achieve this, simply click Reuse existing feature set and choose the feature set you want to use. Then all the features included in the feature set are automatically ticked. You can also see the feature types selected earlier along with estimated importance scores.

Reusing an existing feature setReusing an existing feature set

Modifying an existing feature set

If you want to modify an existing feature set, simply select the feature set and make adjustments like adding or removing a feature, or changing the type of a feature. The Engine will create a new feature set after you specify a valid name.

Step 2 – Select algorithms

In Step 2, you need to select the algorithms based on which your models will be trained.

Re-using an existing feature set

If you reuse an existing feature set confirmed in the previous step, the Engine instantly provides an estimation of prediction quality and training time for each algorithm. You can sort the supported algorithms by either the estimated training time or the estimated prediction quality.

🎓 To learn more about prediction quality in the Engine, read what metrics are used to calculate prediction quality.

You can also filter the algorithms on the list by specifying the requirements for the estimated training time and/or prediction quality.

Supported algorithms with estimated training time and prediction qualitySupported algorithms with estimated training time and prediction quality

If you want to customize the name, the computational resource, or the hyperparameter search space for your model, click Advanced configuration and make modifications accordingly.

Creating a new feature set

In the case that a new feature set is created, the estimation of either training time or prediction quality is not ready at this stage. Here you can ask the Engine to automatically select the algorithms based on the estimation of training time and prediction quality from the Engine (when the feature set is pre-processed) against your input requirements.

Automatically selecting one or more algorithmsAutomatically selecting one or more algorithms

On the other hand, if you have your preferred algorithms, choose Manually select algorithms to train. Here Advanced configuration is available, in which you can make the same adjustments as the situation of re-using an existing feature set mentioned above.

Manually selecting one or more algorithms with no estimation of training time or prediction qualityManually selecting one or more algorithms with no estimation of training time or prediction quality

Here are the steps on how to train more models within an existing app. Once algorithm selection is confirmed, you can track the progress on the page of App Summary or Models Training Requests.

Progress report on the page on App SummaryProgress report on the page on App Summary