Podchaser Logo
Podchaser Logo
Charts
#147 Fast Approximate Inference without Convergence Worries, with Martin Ingram

#147 Fast Approximate Inference without Convergence Worries, with Martin Ingram

Released Friday, 12th December 2025
Good episode? Give it some love!
#147 Fast Approximate Inference without Convergence Worries, with Martin Ingram

#147 Fast Approximate Inference without Convergence Worries, with Martin Ingram

#147 Fast Approximate Inference without Convergence Worries, with Martin Ingram

#147 Fast Approximate Inference without Convergence Worries, with Martin Ingram

Friday, 12th December 2025
Good episode? Give it some love!
Rate Episode
List

Proudly sponsored by PyMC Labs, the Bayesian Consultancy. Book a call, or get in touch!


Our theme music is « Good Bayesian », by Baba Brinkman (feat MC Lars and Mega Ran). Check out his awesome work!

Visit our Patreon page to unlock exclusive Bayesian swag ;)

Takeaways:

  • DADVI is a new approach to variational inference that aims to improve speed and accuracy.
  • DADVI allows for faster Bayesian inference without sacrificing model flexibility.
  • Linear response can help recover covariance estimates from mean estimates.
  • DADVI performs well in mixed models and hierarchical structures.
  • Normalizing flows present an interesting avenue for enhancing variational inference.
  • DADVI can handle large datasets effectively, improving predictive performance.
  • Future enhancements for DADVI may include GPU support and linear response integration.


Chapters:

13:17 Understanding DADVI: A New Approach

21:54 Mean Field Variational Inference Explained

26:38 Linear Response and Covariance Estimation

31:21 Deterministic vs Stochastic Optimization in DADVI

35:00 Understanding DADVI and Its Optimization Landscape

37:59 Theoretical Insights and Practical Applications of DADVI

42:12 Comparative Performance of DADVI in Real Applications

45:03 Challenges and Effectiveness of DADVI in Various Models

48:51 Exploring Future Directions for Variational Inference

53:04 Final Thoughts and Advice for Practitioners

Thank you to my Patrons for making this episode possible!

Yusuke Saito, Avi Bryant, Giuliano Cruz, James Wade, Tradd Salvo, William Benton, James Ahloy, Robin Taylor, Chad Scherrer, Zwelithini Tunyiswa, Bertrand Wilden, James Thompson, Stephen Oates, Gian Luca Di Tanna, Jack Wells, Matthew Maldonado, Ian Costley, Ally Salim, Larry Gill, Ian Moran, Paul Oreto, Colin Caprani, Colin Carroll, Nathaniel Burbank, Michael Osthege, Rémi Louf, Clive Edelsten, Henri Wallen, Hugo Botha, Vinh Nguyen, Marcin Elantkowski, Adam C. Smith, Will Kurt, Andrew Moskowitz, Hector Munoz, Marco Gorelli, Simon Kessell, Bradley Rode, Patrick Kelley, Rick Anderson, Casper de Bruin, Michael Hankin, Cameron Smith, Tomáš Frýda, Ryan Wesslen, Andreas Netti, Riley King, Yoshiyuki Hamajima, Sven De Maeyer, Michael DeCrescenzo, Fergal M, Mason Yahr, Naoya Kanai, Aubrey Clayton, Omri Har Shemesh, Scott Anthony Robson, Robert Yolken, Or Duek, Pavel Dusek, Paul Cox, Andreas Kröpelin, Raphaël...

Show More
Rate
List

From The Podcast

Learning Bayesian Statistics

Are you a researcher or data scientist / analyst / ninja? Do you want to learn Bayesian inference, stay up to date or simply want to understand what Bayesian inference is? Then this podcast is for you! You'll hear from researchers and practitioners of all fields about how they use Bayesian statistics, and how in turn YOU can apply these methods in your modeling workflow. When I started learning Bayesian methods, I really wished there were a podcast out there that could introduce me to the methods, the projects and the people who make all that possible. So I created "Learning Bayesian Statistics", where you'll get to hear how Bayesian statistics are used to detect black matter in outer space, forecast elections or understand how diseases spread and can ultimately be stopped. But this show is not only about successes -- it's also about failures, because that's how we learn best. So you'll often hear the guests talking about what *didn't* work in their projects, why, and how they overcame these challenges. Because, in the end, we're all lifelong learners! My name is Alex Andorra by the way. By day, I'm a Senior data scientist. By night, I don't (yet) fight crime, but I'm an open-source enthusiast and core contributor to the python packages PyMC and ArviZ. I also love Nutella, but I don't like talking about it – I prefer eating it. So, whether you want to learn Bayesian statistics or hear about the latest libraries, books and applications, this podcast is for you -- just subscribe! You can also support the show and unlock exclusive Bayesian swag on Patreon!

Join Podchaser to...

  • Rate podcasts and episodes
  • Follow podcasts and creators
  • Create podcast and episode lists
  • & much more
Do you host or manage this podcast?
Claim and edit this page to your liking.
,