arXiv:2508.19780cs.LGstat.ML2025-08

用有趣性筛选特征,让模型发现反直觉但有洞察力的规律。

Interestingness First Classifiers

  • 基于大模型评估特征有趣性,仅用高趣味特征构建可解释分类器。
  • 在占用检测数据集上选湿度而非二氧化碳,准确率仍可观。
  • 适合需要新颖发现的科研探索,尤其看重可解释性的场景。

多数机器学习模型以预测准确率为目标,本文转向构建‘有趣’的分类器——即利用非显而易见或反常特征,即使准确率略低。例如,用二氧化碳预测房间拥挤度虽准确但平淡;而用湿度预测则准确率稍低却更具启发性。我们提出EUREKA框架,借助大语言模型对特征进行有趣性评分,并仅使用高趣味特征训练可解释分类器。在多个基准数据集上,EUREKA持续识别出非直观但仍有预测能力的特征。如在Occupancy Detection数据集中,模型偏好湿度而非二氧化碳和光照强度,仍保持有效准确率并提供新见解;在Twin Papers数据集中,发现标题含冒号的论文未来更可能被引用。我们认为这类模型能推动知识发现与传播,尤其适用于对准确率要求不高但重视新颖性与可解释性的场景。

原文摘要 · Abstract (English)

Most machine learning models are designed to maximize predictive accuracy. In this work, we explore a different goal: building classifiers that are interesting. An ``interesting classifier'' is one that uses unusual or unexpected features, even if its accuracy is lower than the best possible model. For example, predicting room congestion from CO2 levels achieves near-perfect accuracy but is unsurprising. In contrast, predicting room congestion from humidity is less accurate yet more nuanced and intriguing. We introduce EUREKA, a simple framework that selects features according to their perceived interestingness. Our method leverages large language models to rank features by their interestingness and then builds interpretable classifiers using only the selected interesting features. Across several benchmark datasets, EUREKA consistently identifies features that are non-obvious yet still predictive. For example, in the Occupancy Detection dataset, our method favors humidity over CO2 levels and light intensity, producing classifiers that achieve meaningful accuracy while offering insights. In the Twin Papers dataset, our method discovers the rule that papers with a colon in the title are more likely to be cited in the future. We argue that such models can support new ways of knowledge discovery and communication, especially in settings where moderate accuracy is sufficient but novelty and interpretability are valued.

可解释性知识发现特征选择

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