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Cost-Effective Attention Mechanisms for Low Resource Settings: Necessity & Sufficiency of Linear Transformations (2403.01643v3)

Published 3 Mar 2024 in cs.LG, cs.AI, cs.CL, and cs.CV

Abstract: From natural language processing to vision, Scaled Dot Product Attention (SDPA) is the backbone of most modern deep learning applications. Unfortunately, its memory and computational requirements can be prohibitive in low-resource settings. In this paper, we improve its efficiency without sacrificing its versatility. We propose three attention variants where we remove consecutive linear transformations or add a novel one, and evaluate them on a range of standard NLP and vision tasks. Our proposed models are substantially lighter than standard SDPA (and have 25-50% fewer parameters). We show that the performance cost of these changes is negligible relative to size reduction and that in one case (Super Attention) we succeed in outperforming SDPA by up to 10% while improving its speed and reducing its parameters by 25%.

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Citations (1)
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Summary

  • The paper introduces three novel attention mechanisms—Optimised, Efficient, and Super Attention—that reduce computational costs while enhancing Transformer performance.
  • It demonstrates that Optimised Attention bypasses a matrix multiplication per head to shrink the attention layer size by 25% without sacrificing learning capability.
  • Empirical evaluations across diverse datasets confirm that Efficient and Super Attention models improve inference speed and performance for sustainable AI deployment.

Revisiting Attention Mechanisms: Efficiency and Effectiveness in the Limelight

Introduction

The quest for efficiency without sacrificing performance in Transformer models has led to a novel exploration of attention mechanisms. With the increasing size of LLMs and their deployment challenges, particularly in terms of environmental impact and computational demands, researchers have sought to optimize these models for better performance and broader deployability. This paper introduces three distinct attention mechanisms—Optimised Attention, Efficient Attention, and Super Attention. Each proposes a unique approach to reducing computational costs and model sizes while either preserving or enhancing model capabilities. This breakthrough is poised to significantly impact both the theory and application of attention mechanisms in AI models.

Optimised Attention: Compact Yet Competent

Optimised Attention achieves similar performance levels to standard attention with fewer resources. It elegantly bypasses one matrix multiplication per head, effectively diminishing the attention layer’s size by a quarter. This reduction in complexity does not compromise its learning capabilities, thanks to its ingenious design. By proving mathematically and validating through empirical evaluation, Optimised Attention emerges as a lean yet equally proficient alternative to standard multi-head attention.

Efficient Attention: Maximizing Efficiency

Efficient Attention takes a leap forward in efficiency. It stands out by slashing the attention layer’s size in half and reducing its computational demand by two matrix multiplications per head. Its design principle rests on merging two consecutive linear transformations and challenging the necessity of Multi-Head Attention (MHA) for achieving high learning capabilities. Despite its trimmed-down size, it maintains competitive performance metrics, showcasing speed improvements of up to twice that of standard attention without compromising on loss and accuracy.

Super Attention: Surpassing Standards

Super Attention unveils a remarkable advancement in enhancing both efficiency and performance of attention mechanisms. It reduces the attention layer’s size by approximately one-fourth and cuts down computational requirements by utilizing a novel, learnable alignment kernel. This adjustment not only improves efficiency but also significantly boosts performance across various tasks, outperforming standard attention mechanisms by a notable margin. Such improvements underscore Super Attention’s potential to set new benchmarks in creating high-performance, computationally efficient AI models.

Empirical Validation

The claims presented are thoroughly examined through rigorous testing across a suite of datasets including MNIST, CIFAR100, IMDB Movie Reviews, and Amazon Reviews. The evaluation underscores the efficiency and efficacy of the proposed attention mechanisms, with Super Attention consistently leading in performance metrics. Furthermore, analysis on an edge computing device reveals that the Efficient and Super Attention models offer substantial inference speedups, making them well-suited for deployment in resource-constrained environments.

Future Directions and Implications

This examination of the attention mechanism not only challenges the prevailing "bigger is better" paradigm but also opens up new avenues for research and application. The presented mechanisms promote the rethinking of attention within Transformer models, advocating for a balance between model size, computational demand, performance, and deployability. The advancements suggest promising potential for the deployment of more capable and environmentally conscious AI models across a broader range of devices and applications. As the AI field continues to evolve, the efficiency and capability enhancements introduced by these new attention mechanisms will undoubtedly influence future directions in both model architecture design and application scopes.

Conclusion

The paper’s contribution to the field of AI, specifically in refining and enhancing attention mechanisms within Transformer models, is both significant and timely. Addressing the critical challenges of computational efficiency and model performance, the proposed Optimised, Efficient, and Super Attention mechanisms represent a pivotal shift towards more sustainable and potent AI models. These developments not only propel the understanding and application of attention mechanisms forward but also align with the broader objectives of creating more accessible, efficient, and effective AI systems. As we move forward, the insights and methodologies introduced here are likely to have a lasting impact on the development of AI architectures and their application across varied domains.

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  1. New attention mechanisms that outperform standard multi-head attention (1 point, 1 comment)