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Base model

Visual diagram · (in preparation) · Math · (in preparation) · Worked example · 3 difficulty levels.

TL;DR. A pre-trained model used as a starting point for fine-tuning on specific downstream tasks.

Technical Definition

A pre-trained model used as a starting point for fine-tuning on specific downstream tasks.

How it works

A base model is a large, pre-trained model that serves as the foundation for further customization. It has already learned general patterns and features from a vast dataset. This base model can then be fine-tuned on a smaller, task-specific dataset to adapt its capabilities for particular applications, saving significant training time and resources.

Related Concepts

  • Fine-Tuning — Adapting a pre-trained model to a specific task by continuing training on a smaller, task-specific dataset.
  • Transfer Learning — Leveraging knowledge from a model trained on one task to improve performance on a different but related task.
  • Pre-trained Model — An AI model that has already been trained on a very large dataset for a general task.

Further Reading

  • Google ML Glossary