arXiv:2505.19281cs.LG2025-05NeurIPS被引 11

为在线强化学习设计可解释的数据溯源框架,提升训练效率与透明度。

A Snapshot of Influence: A Local Data Attribution Framework for Online Reinforcement Learning

  • 基于近期训练缓冲区构建局部数据归因机制,通过梯度相似性评估样本贡献。
  • 在经典控制、导航等任务中,新方法降低样本复杂度并加速收敛,提升最终回报。
  • 适用于需解释性与高效训练的在线强化学习场景,如大模型对齐训练。

在线强化学习(RL)在复杂安全关键领域表现优异,但存在样本效率低、训练不稳定和可解释性差的问题。数据归因能追溯模型行为与训练样本的关联,但现有方法假设数据集固定,不适用于在线RL——其中每个经验既更新策略又影响未来数据收集。本文首次研究在线RL中的数据归因,聚焦广泛使用的近端策略优化(PPO)算法。提出一个局部归因框架,以最近训练缓冲区记录为基准,设计两类目标函数:代理动作与累计回报,通过训练损失与目标间的梯度相似性衡量每条记录的贡献。该框架应用于学习诊断、行为形成时序分析及训练干预。进一步提出迭代影响过滤(IIF)算法,通过迭代筛选经验来优化策略更新。在标准RL基准(经典控制、导航、运动)及大语言模型的强化学习人类反馈(RLHF)任务中,IIF显著降低样本复杂度,加快训练速度,并获得更高回报。结果开启在线RL可解释性、高效性与有效性的新方向。

原文摘要 · Abstract (English)

Online reinforcement learning (RL) excels in complex, safety-critical domains but suffers from sample inefficiency, training instability, and limited interpretability. Data attribution provides a principled way to trace model behavior back to training samples, yet existing methods assume fixed datasets, which is violated in online RL where each experience both updates the policy and shapes future data collection. In this paper, we initiate the study of data attribution for online RL, focusing on the widely used Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) algorithm. We start by establishing a \emph{local} attribution framework, interpreting model checkpoints with respect to the records in the recent training buffer. We design two target functions, capturing agent action and cumulative return respectively, and measure each record's contribution through gradient similarity between its training loss and these targets. We demonstrate the power of this framework through three concrete applications: diagnosis of learning, temporal analysis of behavior formation, and targeted intervention during training. Leveraging this framework, we further propose an algorithm, iterative influence-based filtering (IIF), for online RL training that iteratively performs experience filtering to refine policy updates. Across standard RL benchmarks (classic control, navigation, locomotion) to RLHF for large language models, IIF reduces sample complexity, speeds up training, and achieves higher returns. Together, these results open a new direction for making online RL more interpretable, efficient, and effective.

强化学习可解释性数据归因在线学习

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