arXiv:2506.10914cs.LG2025-06被引 32

用因果模型构建先验,让大模型学会上下文推断因果关系。

Foundation Models for Causal Inference via Prior-Data Fitted Networks

  • 基于结构因果模型设计有效先验,支持多种因果推断场景。
  • 在背门、前门和工具变量调整中实现可比基线的上下文学习性能。
  • 适用于医疗、经济等领域,为因果推断提供新范式。

先验-数据拟合网络(PFNs)是训练表格型基础模型的新兴方法,其通过预训练合成数据并利用上下文学习实现贝叶斯推断。本文提出CausalFM框架,系统化地将PFN应用于各类因果推断场景。首先,基于结构因果模型(SCMs)形式化构建贝叶斯先验,并推导出其有效性必要条件;其次,提出一类受因果启发的贝叶斯神经网络先验分布,使CausalFM可在背门、前门及工具变量调整等场景中执行贝叶斯因果推断;最后,实例化该框架并显式训练模型完成上下文学习。实验表明,即使不针对特定任务微调,CausalFM仍达到与专用基线相当的性能。本框架可作为通用配方,用于训练多种因果推断场景下的基础模型。相比现有最先进方法,CausalFM提供全新范式,有望改变医学、经济学等领域的因果推断实践。

原文摘要 · Abstract (English)

Prior-data fitted networks (PFNs) have recently been proposed as a promising way to train tabular foundation models. PFNs are transformers that are pre-trained on synthetic data generated from a prespecified prior distribution and that enable Bayesian inference through in-context learning. In this paper, we introduce CausalFM, a comprehensive framework for training PFN-based foundation models in various causal inference settings. First, we formalize the construction of Bayesian priors for causal inference based on structural causal models (SCMs) in a principled way and derive necessary criteria for the validity of such priors. Building on this, we propose a novel family of prior distributions using causality-inspired Bayesian neural networks that enable CausalFM to perform Bayesian causal inference in various settings, including for back-door, front-door, and instrumental variable adjustment. Finally, we instantiate CausalFM and explicitly train models to perform in-context learning in these settings. We show that CausalFM achieves competitive in-context learning performance even when compared to baselines that are specifically trained for the task at hand. In sum, our framework can be used as a general recipe to train foundation models for various causal inference settings. In contrast to the current state-of-the-art in causal inference, CausalFM offers a novel paradigm with the potential to fundamentally change how practitioners perform causal inference in medicine, economics, and other disciplines.

因果推断基础模型贝叶斯学习上下文学习

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