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Neural Architecture Search (NAS)

Master automated neural network design through advanced search techniques and optimization methods

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What is Neural Architecture Search?

Neural Architecture Search (NAS) is an automated machine learning technique that searches for optimal neural network architectures. Instead of manually designing networks, NAS algorithms explore the space of possible architectures to find designs that maximize performance while considering constraints like latency, memory, and energy efficiency.

Automated Design

Removes human bias and explores larger design spaces

Multi-Objective

Optimizes for accuracy, efficiency, and deployment constraints

Domain Agnostic

Works across vision, NLP, speech, and other domains

NAS Search Cost Calculator

Estimate the computational cost and time required for different NAS configurations

Search Results

Total Evaluations:5,000
Total Time:2500h (104d)
Estimated Cost:$1,250
Efficiency:2 arch/h

NAS Search Methods

evolutionary

Accuracy: 96.3%
Search Time: 48h
Evaluated: 2,400

differentiable

Accuracy: 96.1%
Search Time: 8h
Evaluated: ∞ (continuous)

bayesian

Accuracy: 95.9%
Search Time: 24h
Evaluated: 800

reinforcement

Accuracy: 96.4%
Search Time: 72h
Evaluated: 5,000

Search Space Design

Macro Search Space

High-level architectural choices

Examples:

Layer types, connections, depth

Complexity:

Medium

Evolutionary NAS Implementation

Complete Evolutionary NAS Framework
import torch
import torch.nn as nn
import numpy as np
import random
from typing import Dict, List, Tuple, Optional
from dataclasses import dataclass
from concurrent.futures import ProcessPoolExecutor
import json

@dataclass
class ArchitectureGene:
    """Genetic representation of neural architecture"""
    layers: List[Dict]  # Layer configurations
    connections: List[Tuple[int, int]]  # Skip connections
    depth: int
    width_multiplier: float
    
    def __post_init__(self):
        self.fitness: Optional[float] = None
        self.latency: Optional[float] = None
        self.memory: Optional[float] = None

class NASSearchSpace:
    """Defines the search space for neural architectures"""
    
    def __init__(self):
        self.layer_types = [
            'conv3x3', 'conv1x1', 'depthwise_conv3x3', 
            'dilated_conv3x3', 'maxpool3x3', 'avgpool3x3',
            'identity', 'bottleneck', 'inverted_residual'
        ]
        self.activations = ['relu', 'swish', 'hardswish', 'gelu']
        self.normalizations = ['batchnorm', 'layernorm', 'groupnorm']
        self.channel_sizes = [16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024]
        self.kernel_sizes = [1, 3, 5, 7]
    
    def random_architecture(self, max_depth: int = 20) -> ArchitectureGene:
        """Generate random architecture within search space"""
        depth = random.randint(8, max_depth)
        layers = []
        
        for i in range(depth):
            layer = {
                'type': random.choice(self.layer_types),
                'channels': random.choice(self.channel_sizes),
                'kernel_size': random.choice(self.kernel_sizes),
                'activation': random.choice(self.activations),
                'normalization': random.choice(self.normalizations),
                'dropout': random.uniform(0.0, 0.3)
            }
            layers.append(layer)
        
        # Generate random skip connections
        connections = []
        for i in range(depth):
            if random.random() < 0.3:  # 30% chance of skip connection
                source = random.randint(0, i)
                connections.append((source, i))
        
        return ArchitectureGene(
            layers=layers,
            connections=connections,
            depth=depth,
            width_multiplier=random.uniform(0.5, 2.0)
        )
    
    def mutate_architecture(self, arch: ArchitectureGene, 
                          mutation_rate: float = 0.1) -> ArchitectureGene:
        """Apply mutations to architecture"""
        mutated_layers = []
        
        for layer in arch.layers:
            new_layer = layer.copy()
            
            if random.random() < mutation_rate:
                # Mutate layer type
                if random.random() < 0.3:
                    new_layer['type'] = random.choice(self.layer_types)
                
                # Mutate channels
                if random.random() < 0.3:
                    new_layer['channels'] = random.choice(self.channel_sizes)
                
                # Mutate activation
                if random.random() < 0.2:
                    new_layer['activation'] = random.choice(self.activations)
            
            mutated_layers.append(new_layer)
        
        # Mutate connections
        mutated_connections = arch.connections.copy()
        if random.random() < mutation_rate:
            if mutated_connections and random.random() < 0.5:
                # Remove a connection
                mutated_connections.pop(random.randint(0, len(mutated_connections) - 1))
            else:
                # Add a connection
                i = random.randint(1, arch.depth - 1)
                j = random.randint(0, i - 1)
                mutated_connections.append((j, i))
        
        return ArchitectureGene(
            layers=mutated_layers,
            connections=mutated_connections,
            depth=len(mutated_layers),
            width_multiplier=arch.width_multiplier
        )
    
    def crossover_architectures(self, parent1: ArchitectureGene, 
                              parent2: ArchitectureGene) -> Tuple[ArchitectureGene, ArchitectureGene]:
        """Create offspring through crossover"""
        # Single-point crossover for layers
        crossover_point = random.randint(1, min(len(parent1.layers), len(parent2.layers)) - 1)
        
        child1_layers = parent1.layers[:crossover_point] + parent2.layers[crossover_point:]
        child2_layers = parent2.layers[:crossover_point] + parent1.layers[crossover_point:]
        
        # Combine connections
        child1_connections = parent1.connections + parent2.connections
        child2_connections = parent2.connections + parent1.connections
        
        child1 = ArchitectureGene(
            layers=child1_layers,
            connections=child1_connections,
            depth=len(child1_layers),
            width_multiplier=(parent1.width_multiplier + parent2.width_multiplier) / 2
        )
        
        child2 = ArchitectureGene(
            layers=child2_layers,
            connections=child2_connections,
            depth=len(child2_layers),
            width_multiplier=(parent1.width_multiplier + parent2.width_multiplier) / 2
        )
        
        return child1, child2

class ArchitectureEvaluator:
    """Evaluates neural architectures"""
    
    def __init__(self, dataset, device='cuda'):
        self.dataset = dataset
        self.device = device
    
    def build_model(self, arch: ArchitectureGene) -> nn.Module:
        """Build PyTorch model from architecture gene"""
        class DynamicNet(nn.Module):
            def __init__(self, arch: ArchitectureGene):
                super().__init__()
                self.layers = nn.ModuleList()
                self.connections = arch.connections
                
                for i, layer_config in enumerate(arch.layers):
                    layer = self._build_layer(layer_config)
                    self.layers.append(layer)
            
            def _build_layer(self, config: Dict) -> nn.Module:
                layer_type = config['type']
                channels = config['channels']
                
                if layer_type == 'conv3x3':
                    return nn.Conv2d(channels, channels, 3, padding=1)
                elif layer_type == 'conv1x1':
                    return nn.Conv2d(channels, channels, 1)
                elif layer_type == 'depthwise_conv3x3':
                    return nn.Conv2d(channels, channels, 3, groups=channels, padding=1)
                elif layer_type == 'maxpool3x3':
                    return nn.MaxPool2d(3, stride=1, padding=1)
                elif layer_type == 'avgpool3x3':
                    return nn.AvgPool2d(3, stride=1, padding=1)
                else:  # identity
                    return nn.Identity()
            
            def forward(self, x):
                layer_outputs = [x]
                
                for i, layer in enumerate(self.layers):
                    # Apply skip connections
                    layer_input = layer_outputs[-1]
                    for src, dst in self.connections:
                        if dst == i and src < len(layer_outputs):
                            layer_input = layer_input + layer_outputs[src]
                    
                    output = layer(layer_input)
                    layer_outputs.append(output)
                
                return layer_outputs[-1]
        
        return DynamicNet(arch)
    
    def evaluate_architecture(self, arch: ArchitectureGene, 
                            epochs: int = 5) -> Dict[str, float]:
        """Evaluate architecture performance"""
        try:
            model = self.build_model(arch)
            model = model.to(self.device)
            
            # Fast evaluation with limited training
            optimizer = torch.optim.Adam(model.parameters(), lr=0.001)
            criterion = nn.CrossEntropyLoss()
            
            model.train()
            total_loss = 0
            num_batches = min(100, len(self.dataset))  # Limit for speed
            
            for epoch in range(epochs):
                for i, (inputs, targets) in enumerate(self.dataset):
                    if i >= num_batches:
                        break
                    
                    inputs, targets = inputs.to(self.device), targets.to(self.device)
                    
                    optimizer.zero_grad()
                    outputs = model(inputs)
                    loss = criterion(outputs, targets)
                    loss.backward()
                    optimizer.step()
                    
                    total_loss += loss.item()
            
            # Evaluate accuracy
            model.eval()
            correct = 0
            total = 0
            
            with torch.no_grad():
                for i, (inputs, targets) in enumerate(self.dataset):
                    if i >= 50:  # Quick evaluation
                        break
                    
                    inputs, targets = inputs.to(self.device), targets.to(self.device)
                    outputs = model(inputs)
                    _, predicted = torch.max(outputs.data, 1)
                    total += targets.size(0)
                    correct += (predicted == targets).sum().item()
            
            accuracy = correct / total if total > 0 else 0.0
            
            # Estimate model complexity
            total_params = sum(p.numel() for p in model.parameters())
            
            return {
                'accuracy': accuracy,
                'loss': total_loss / (epochs * num_batches),
                'params': total_params,
                'latency': self._estimate_latency(model),
                'memory': self._estimate_memory(model)
            }
            
        except Exception as e:
            print(f"Architecture evaluation failed: {e}")
            return {
                'accuracy': 0.0,
                'loss': float('inf'),
                'params': float('inf'),
                'latency': float('inf'),
                'memory': float('inf')
            }
    
    def _estimate_latency(self, model: nn.Module) -> float:
        """Estimate inference latency"""
        model.eval()
        with torch.no_grad():
            dummy_input = torch.randn(1, 3, 224, 224).to(self.device)
            
            # Warm up
            for _ in range(10):
                _ = model(dummy_input)
            
            # Time inference
            torch.cuda.synchronize()
            start_time = torch.cuda.Event(enable_timing=True)
            end_time = torch.cuda.Event(enable_timing=True)
            
            start_time.record()
            for _ in range(100):
                _ = model(dummy_input)
            end_time.record()
            
            torch.cuda.synchronize()
            return start_time.elapsed_time(end_time) / 100  # ms per inference
    
    def _estimate_memory(self, model: nn.Module) -> float:
        """Estimate memory usage"""
        total_memory = 0
        for param in model.parameters():
            total_memory += param.numel() * param.element_size()
        return total_memory / (1024 * 1024)  # MB

class EvolutionaryNAS:
    """Main evolutionary NAS algorithm"""
    
    def __init__(self, search_space: NASSearchSpace, 
                 evaluator: ArchitectureEvaluator,
                 population_size: int = 50,
                 generations: int = 100):
        self.search_space = search_space
        self.evaluator = evaluator
        self.population_size = population_size
        self.generations = generations
        self.best_architectures = []
    
    def initialize_population(self) -> List[ArchitectureGene]:
        """Create initial population"""
        return [self.search_space.random_architecture() for _ in range(self.population_size)]
    
    def evaluate_population(self, population: List[ArchitectureGene]) -> List[ArchitectureGene]:
        """Evaluate fitness of entire population"""
        for arch in population:
            if arch.fitness is None:  # Only evaluate if not already evaluated
                results = self.evaluator.evaluate_architecture(arch)
                
                # Multi-objective fitness function
                accuracy_weight = 0.7
                efficiency_weight = 0.3
                
                # Normalize and combine metrics
                accuracy_score = results['accuracy']
                efficiency_score = 1.0 / (1.0 + results['latency'] / 100.0)  # Lower latency is better
                
                arch.fitness = accuracy_weight * accuracy_score + efficiency_weight * efficiency_score
                arch.latency = results['latency']
                arch.memory = results['memory']
        
        return sorted(population, key=lambda x: x.fitness, reverse=True)
    
    def selection(self, population: List[ArchitectureGene], k: int) -> List[ArchitectureGene]:
        """Tournament selection"""
        selected = []
        for _ in range(k):
            tournament = random.sample(population, min(3, len(population)))
            winner = max(tournament, key=lambda x: x.fitness)
            selected.append(winner)
        return selected
    
    def evolve(self) -> ArchitectureGene:
        """Run evolutionary algorithm"""
        # Initialize population
        population = self.initialize_population()
        
        for generation in range(self.generations):
            print(f"Generation {generation + 1}/{self.generations}")
            
            # Evaluate population
            population = self.evaluate_population(population)
            
            # Track best architectures
            best_arch = population[0]
            self.best_architectures.append(best_arch)
            
            print(f"Best fitness: {best_arch.fitness:.4f}, "
                  f"Latency: {best_arch.latency:.2f}ms, "
                  f"Memory: {best_arch.memory:.2f}MB")
            
            # Selection and reproduction
            elite_size = self.population_size // 10  # Keep top 10%
            new_population = population[:elite_size]
            
            # Generate offspring
            while len(new_population) < self.population_size:
                # Selection
                parents = self.selection(population, 2)
                
                # Crossover
                child1, child2 = self.search_space.crossover_architectures(parents[0], parents[1])
                
                # Mutation
                child1 = self.search_space.mutate_architecture(child1)
                child2 = self.search_space.mutate_architecture(child2)
                
                new_population.extend([child1, child2])
            
            # Trim to population size
            population = new_population[:self.population_size]
        
        # Final evaluation and return best
        population = self.evaluate_population(population)
        return population[0]

# Usage example
def run_evolutionary_nas():
    """Example of running evolutionary NAS"""
    
    # Setup (replace with actual dataset)
    from torchvision import datasets, transforms
    from torch.utils.data import DataLoader
    
    transform = transforms.Compose([
        transforms.Resize((224, 224)),
        transforms.ToTensor(),
        transforms.Normalize((0.5,), (0.5,))
    ])
    
    # Load dataset (example with CIFAR-10)
    dataset = datasets.CIFAR10(root='./data', train=True, transform=transform, download=True)
    dataloader = DataLoader(dataset, batch_size=32, shuffle=True)
    
    # Initialize NAS components
    search_space = NASSearchSpace()
    evaluator = ArchitectureEvaluator(dataloader)
    
    # Run evolutionary NAS
    nas = EvolutionaryNAS(
        search_space=search_space,
        evaluator=evaluator,
        population_size=20,  # Smaller for demo
        generations=10
    )
    
    best_architecture = nas.evolve()
    
    print("\nBest Architecture Found:")
    print(f"Fitness: {best_architecture.fitness:.4f}")
    print(f"Depth: {best_architecture.depth}")
    print(f"Latency: {best_architecture.latency:.2f}ms")
    print(f"Memory: {best_architecture.memory:.2f}MB")
    
    return best_architecture

if __name__ == "__main__":
    best_arch = run_evolutionary_nas()

Differentiable NAS (DARTS)

Continuous Relaxation

DARTS treats architecture search as a continuous optimization problem by representing the search space as a weighted combination of all possible operations, making it differentiable and efficient.

DARTS Implementation
import torch
import torch.nn as nn
import torch.nn.functional as F
from typing import List, Dict

class MixedOperation(nn.Module):
    """Mixed operation for DARTS - weighted combination of primitives"""
    
    def __init__(self, C, stride, primitives):
        super().__init__()
        self._ops = nn.ModuleList()
        
        for primitive in primitives:
            op = self._get_operation(primitive, C, stride)
            self._ops.append(op)
    
    def _get_operation(self, primitive, C, stride):
        """Get specific operation"""
        if primitive == 'none':
            return Zero(stride)
        elif primitive == 'skip_connect':
            return Identity() if stride == 1 else FactorizedReduce(C, C)
        elif primitive == 'conv_1x1':
            return nn.Sequential(
                nn.Conv2d(C, C, 1, stride, 0, bias=False),
                nn.BatchNorm2d(C)
            )
        elif primitive == 'conv_3x3':
            return nn.Sequential(
                nn.Conv2d(C, C, 3, stride, 1, bias=False),
                nn.BatchNorm2d(C)
            )
        elif primitive == 'sep_conv_3x3':
            return SeparableConv2d(C, C, 3, stride, 1)
        elif primitive == 'sep_conv_5x5':
            return SeparableConv2d(C, C, 5, stride, 2)
        elif primitive == 'dil_conv_3x3':
            return DilatedConv2d(C, C, 3, stride, 2, 2)
        elif primitive == 'max_pool_3x3':
            return nn.MaxPool2d(3, stride, 1)
        elif primitive == 'avg_pool_3x3':
            return nn.AvgPool2d(3, stride, 1)
        else:
            raise ValueError(f"Unknown primitive: {primitive}")
    
    def forward(self, x, weights):
        """Forward pass with architecture weights"""
        return sum(w * op(x) for w, op in zip(weights, self._ops))

class Cell(nn.Module):
    """DARTS cell with learnable connections"""
    
    def __init__(self, steps, multiplier, C_prev, C, reduction, primitives):
        super().__init__()
        self.reduction = reduction
        self.primitives = primitives
        
        if reduction:
            self.preprocess0 = FactorizedReduce(C_prev, C)
        else:
            self.preprocess0 = nn.Sequential(
                nn.Conv2d(C_prev, C, 1, bias=False),
                nn.BatchNorm2d(C)
            )
        
        self.preprocess1 = nn.Sequential(
            nn.Conv2d(C, C, 1, bias=False),
            nn.BatchNorm2d(C)
        )
        
        self._steps = steps
        self._multiplier = multiplier
        
        self._ops = nn.ModuleList()
        for i in range(self._steps):
            for j in range(2 + i):
                stride = 2 if reduction and j < 2 else 1
                op = MixedOperation(C, stride, primitives)
                self._ops.append(op)
    
    def forward(self, s0, s1, weights):
        s0 = self.preprocess0(s0)
        s1 = self.preprocess1(s1)
        
        states = [s0, s1]
        offset = 0
        
        for i in range(self._steps):
            s = sum(self._ops[offset + j](h, weights[offset + j])
                   for j, h in enumerate(states))
            offset += len(states)
            states.append(s)
        
        return torch.cat(states[-self._multiplier:], dim=1)

class DARTSNetwork(nn.Module):
    """Complete DARTS network with learnable architecture"""
    
    def __init__(self, C, num_classes, layers, steps=4, multiplier=4):
        super().__init__()
        
        self.primitives = [
            'none',
            'max_pool_3x3',
            'avg_pool_3x3', 
            'skip_connect',
            'sep_conv_3x3',
            'sep_conv_5x5',
            'dil_conv_3x3',
            'conv_1x1'
        ]
        
        self._C = C
        self._num_classes = num_classes
        self._layers = layers
        self._steps = steps
        self._multiplier = multiplier
        
        # Initialize architecture parameters
        k = sum(1 for i in range(self._steps) for n in range(2 + i))
        num_ops = len(self.primitives)
        
        self.alphas_normal = nn.Parameter(torch.randn(k, num_ops))
        self.alphas_reduce = nn.Parameter(torch.randn(k, num_ops))
        
        # Network stem
        self.stem = nn.Sequential(
            nn.Conv2d(3, C, 3, padding=1, bias=False),
            nn.BatchNorm2d(C)
        )
        
        # Build network layers
        C_prev, C_curr = C, C
        self.cells = nn.ModuleList()
        
        for i in range(layers):
            if i in [layers // 3, 2 * layers // 3]:
                C_curr *= 2
                reduction = True
            else:
                reduction = False
            
            cell = Cell(steps, multiplier, C_prev, C_curr, reduction, self.primitives)
            self.cells.append(cell)
            C_prev = C_curr * multiplier
        
        # Classification head
        self.global_pooling = nn.AdaptiveAvgPool2d(1)
        self.classifier = nn.Linear(C_prev, num_classes)
        
    def forward(self, input):
        s0 = s1 = self.stem(input)
        
        for i, cell in enumerate(self.cells):
            if cell.reduction:
                weights = F.softmax(self.alphas_reduce, dim=-1)
            else:
                weights = F.softmax(self.alphas_normal, dim=-1)
            
            s0, s1 = s1, cell(s0, s1, weights)
        
        out = self.global_pooling(s1)
        logits = self.classifier(out.view(out.size(0), -1))
        return logits
    
    def arch_parameters(self):
        return [self.alphas_normal, self.alphas_reduce]
    
    def model_parameters(self):
        return [p for n, p in self.named_parameters() 
               if 'alpha' not in n]
    
    def genotype(self):
        """Extract discrete architecture from continuous weights"""
        def _parse(weights):
            gene = []
            n = 2
            start = 0
            for i in range(self._steps):
                end = start + n
                W = weights[start:end].copy()
                edges = sorted(range(i + 2), 
                             key=lambda x: -max(W[x][k] for k in range(len(W[x])) 
                                               if k != self.primitives.index('none')))[:2]
                for j in edges:
                    k_best = None
                    for k in range(len(W[j])):
                        if k != self.primitives.index('none'):
                            if k_best is None or W[j][k] > W[j][k_best]:
                                k_best = k
                    gene.append((self.primitives[k_best], j))
                start = end
                n += 1
            return gene
        
        weights_normal = F.softmax(self.alphas_normal, dim=-1).data.cpu().numpy()
        weights_reduce = F.softmax(self.alphas_reduce, dim=-1).data.cpu().numpy()
        
        gene_normal = _parse(weights_normal)
        gene_reduce = _parse(weights_reduce)
        
        return {
            'normal': gene_normal,
            'reduce': gene_reduce
        }

class DARTSTrainer:
    """DARTS training procedure"""
    
    def __init__(self, model, train_loader, valid_loader, 
                 device='cuda', learning_rate=0.025, arch_learning_rate=3e-4):
        self.model = model.to(device)
        self.train_loader = train_loader
        self.valid_loader = valid_loader
        self.device = device
        
        # Separate optimizers for model weights and architecture weights
        self.model_optimizer = torch.optim.SGD(
            self.model.model_parameters(),
            lr=learning_rate,
            momentum=0.9,
            weight_decay=3e-4
        )
        
        self.arch_optimizer = torch.optim.Adam(
            self.model.arch_parameters(),
            lr=arch_learning_rate,
            betas=(0.5, 0.999),
            weight_decay=1e-3
        )
        
        self.criterion = nn.CrossEntropyLoss()
    
    def train_epoch(self):
        self.model.train()
        
        for step, (train_X, train_y) in enumerate(self.train_loader):
            train_X, train_y = train_X.to(self.device), train_y.to(self.device)
            
            # Get validation batch for architecture optimization
            try:
                valid_X, valid_y = next(self.valid_iter)
            except:
                self.valid_iter = iter(self.valid_loader)
                valid_X, valid_y = next(self.valid_iter)
            
            valid_X, valid_y = valid_X.to(self.device), valid_y.to(self.device)
            
            # Step 1: Update architecture weights
            self.arch_optimizer.zero_grad()
            logits = self.model(valid_X)
            arch_loss = self.criterion(logits, valid_y)
            arch_loss.backward()
            self.arch_optimizer.step()
            
            # Step 2: Update model weights
            self.model_optimizer.zero_grad()
            logits = self.model(train_X)
            model_loss = self.criterion(logits, train_y)
            model_loss.backward()
            nn.utils.clip_grad_norm_(self.model.model_parameters(), 5.0)
            self.model_optimizer.step()
            
            if step % 100 == 0:
                print(f"Step {step}: Model Loss = {model_loss:.4f}, Arch Loss = {arch_loss:.4f}")
    
    def search(self, epochs=25):
        """Run DARTS search"""
        self.valid_iter = iter(self.valid_loader)
        
        for epoch in range(epochs):
            print(f"\nEpoch {epoch + 1}/{epochs}")
            self.train_epoch()
            
            # Print current genotype
            genotype = self.model.genotype()
            print(f"Current architecture: {genotype}")
        
        return self.model.genotype()

# Usage example
def run_darts():
    """Example of running DARTS"""
    # Create model
    model = DARTSNetwork(C=16, num_classes=10, layers=8)
    
    # Setup data loaders (replace with actual data)
    # train_loader, valid_loader = get_data_loaders()
    
    # Initialize trainer
    # trainer = DARTSTrainer(model, train_loader, valid_loader)
    
    # Run search
    # final_architecture = trainer.search(epochs=25)
    
    print("DARTS search completed!")
    # return final_architecture

if __name__ == "__main__":
    run_darts()

Real-World NAS Applications

G

Google - EfficientNet

Google used NAS to discover EfficientNet architectures, achieving state-of-the-art accuracy with 10x fewer parameters. The compound scaling method balances network depth, width, and resolution.

  • • 84.3% ImageNet top-1 accuracy
  • • 10x parameter efficiency vs ResNet
  • • Compound scaling methodology
  • • Mobile-optimized variants (B0-B7)
M

Meta - RegNet

Meta's RegNet family was discovered through NAS, providing simple and efficient architectures that outperform EfficientNet on several benchmarks while maintaining interpretability.

  • • Linear design space exploration
  • • Better speed-accuracy trade-offs
  • • Consistent scaling across model sizes
  • • Open-source implementation
MS

Microsoft - BingBERT

Microsoft applied NAS to transformer architectures, creating BingBERT with optimized attention patterns and layer configurations for production search scenarios.

  • • Transformer architecture optimization
  • • Production search deployment
  • • Hardware-aware optimization
  • • Multi-task learning support
N

NVIDIA - FasterTransformer

NVIDIA uses NAS techniques to optimize transformer architectures for their GPU hardware, achieving significant speedups in inference while maintaining model quality.

  • • Hardware-specific optimization
  • • Inference speed improvements
  • • Memory efficiency optimization
  • • Multi-GPU scaling support

NAS Best Practices

✅ Do

Define meaningful search spaces with domain knowledge

Use multi-objective optimization (accuracy + efficiency)

Implement early stopping to reduce search time

Validate discovered architectures thoroughly

Consider hardware constraints during search

Use surrogate models to speed up evaluation

Track and analyze search progress continuously

❌ Don't

Use overly broad search spaces without constraints

Ignore computational cost and search efficiency

Rely solely on accuracy without considering deployment

Skip thorough evaluation on held-out test data

Use insufficient training for architecture evaluation

Forget to validate transferability across datasets

Ignore the interpretability of discovered architectures

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