Processing math: 100%
Skip to yearly menu bar Skip to main content


Poster

CBMA: Improving Conformal Prediction through Bayesian Model Averaging

Pankaj Bhagwat · Linglong Kong · Bei Jiang

Hall 3 + Hall 2B #426
[ ]
Wed 23 Apr 7 p.m. PDT — 9:30 p.m. PDT

Abstract: Conformal prediction has emerged as a popular technique for facilitating valid predictive inference across a spectrum of machine learning models, under minimal assumption of exchangeability. Recently, Hoff (2023) showed that full conformal Bayes provides the most efficient prediction sets (smallest by expected volume) among all prediction sets that are valid at the (1α) level if the model is correctly specified. However, a critical issue arises when the Bayesian model itself may be mis-specified, resulting in prediction interval that might be suboptimal, even though it still enjoys the frequentist coverage guarantee. To address this limitation, we propose an innovative solution that combines Bayesian model averaging (BMA) with conformal prediction. This hybrid not only leverages the strengths of Bayesian conformal prediction but also introduces a layer of robustness through model averaging. Theoretically, we prove that the resulting prediction interval will converge to the optimal level of efficiency, if the true model is included among the candidate models. This assurance of optimality, even under potential model uncertainty, provides a significant improvement over existing methods, ensuring more reliable and precise uncertainty quantification.

Live content is unavailable. Log in and register to view live content