Transformer models are deep-learning models that apply the mathematical techniques of self-attention to make sense of input data. In simpler terms, they can detect how significant the different parts of an input data are.
Transformer models are also neural networks, but they are better than other neural networks like recurrent neural networks (RNN) and convolutional neural networks (CNN). This is because they can process entire input data at once as opposed to processing data sequentially. This allows for parallel computing and saves a lot of time, with faster training of the models.
The first transformer model was introduced as recently as 2017 by the Google artificial intelligence and deep learning team to replace RNNs. It was trained in just 3.5 days, with a dataset comprising over 1 billion words using 8 Nvidia GPUs. This was a massive, significant reduction in time and cost.
Machine learning and AI researchers are currently switching to transformer models due to their faster training times and ability to process huge datasets with its more effective parallel computing.
Transformer models also have the added advantage of working with unlabeled datasets.
Before transformer models were created, researchers had to train models with labelled datasets. But, these datasets were expensive and resource-intensive to produce. Transformer models allow the use of large, unlabeled datasets. So, unlabeled webpages, images, and almost every data on the internet can be used to train models.
Examples of popular transformer models are Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) and Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT).
Transformer models use an encoder-decoder architecture. The encoder has various layers, with each layer generating encodings about relevant input data before passing on the input data to the next encoder layer.
The encoders tag each data element, with attention units creating an algebraic map of how each element relates to others. A multi-head attention set of equations calculate all attention queries in parallel. This allows the transformer model to detect patterns just like humans.
On the other hand, the various decoder layers use information from the encoders to generate the output.
Transformer models use these attention mechanisms to retain access to all previous states of input data. They then weigh the previous states in order of relevance and apply them as needed to understand and process the input data.
Transformer models are mostly used for computer vision, and natural language processing (NLP) tasks mainly because they outperform the previously used state-of-the-art models in these fields.
Some current practical uses include AI content generation, paraphrasing, and real-time translation from one language to another. They are also used in DNA sequence analysis, driverless cars, image recognition, video processing, and object detection.
AlphaFOLD2 is a transformer model that processes amino acid chains for protein research.
MegaMolBART is a transformer model by Nvidia and AstraZeneca for discovering pharmaceutical drugs.
ChatGPT is also built on a transformer model. These and many more are applications of transformer models.
These are just a few of the limitless possibilities of transformer models.
Transformer models are well suited for AI content generation because they can process entire inputs simultaneously instead of sequentially. Meaning if a sentence is inputted, the transformer model processes the entire sentence at once as opposed to processing the sentence word by word.
Transformer models also give context to each entry and track relationships in sequential data. So, they understand words in the context of the sentence and not just as standalone entities. This makes them more suitable for understanding and generating content than previous machine learning models.
They are smarter at understanding the little and subtle ways that elements in a series affect one another. So, they can understand sentence tone, nuance, and other tiny details that other machine learning models can’t detect.
Transformer models used for AI content generation are trained on large datasets in specific or general domains. The more specific the domain used to train a transformer model, the better the model is at text generation and understanding in that field.
Recent transformer models are trained on billions of parameters with datasets containing billions of words.
Transformer models use self-supervised learning to train models on language modelling, reading comprehension, answering questions, sentence/word prediction, paraphrasing, information extraction, object captioning, instruction following and sentiment analysis. They can understand, interpret and translate speech in real-time.
Examples of transformer models used for AI content generation and speech recognition are GPT-1, GPT-2, GPT-3, GPT-Neo, GPT-NeoX, GPT-J, BioBERT, SciBERT, DistilBERT, PubMedBERT, ClinicalBERT, RoBERTa, BLOOM, and XLNet.
The parallel processing, fast training, and diverse usage of transformer models make them game changers. Although transformer models were recently introduced about half a decade ago, they have already replaced RNNs and CNNs as the deep learning models of choice for pattern recognition.
A recently published paper by Stanford researchers refers to transformer models as foundational models that will drive a paradigm shift in AI. The possibilities are vast and endless with transformer models.
Transformer models allow for parallel processing and fast training of models with much-fewer resources. They also allow the use of large, unlabeled datasets.
Unlike other neural network models, transformer models process their entire input at once using parallel architecture.
Fine-tuning is the act of adjusting or retraining a model for specific tasks after pre-training. Transformer models can be finetuned using finetuning techniques like frequent evaluation, stochastic weight averaging, warmup steps, layer-wise learning rate decay, and re-initializing pre-trained layers.
Yes, they are. They are arguably the best machine learning models for computer vision and speech recognition tasks.
Yes, transformer models can be used for text generation and machine translation.
