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Principled Foundations for Preference Optimization

Created by
  • Haebom

Author

Wenxuan Zhou, Shujian Zhang, Brice Magdalou, John Lambert, Ehsan Amid, Richard Nock, Andrew Hard

Outline

This paper presents Direct Preference Optimization (DPO) as a bridge between two major theories of preference learning in machine learning (ML): the loss function (Savage) and probabilistic selection (Doignon-Falmagne and Machina). This bridge is established for all Savage loss functions, and at this general level, it provides (i) support for abstention in the choice theory, (ii) support for nonconvex objectives in the ML context, and (iii) the ability to frame notable extensions of the DPO setting for free, including margin and length modifications. Given the diverse application areas and current interest in DPO, and the fact that many of the state-of-the-art DPO variants occupy a small portion of the scope of this paper, it is important to understand how DPO works from a general principles perspective. Furthermore, it helps to understand pitfalls and identify solutions that fall outside this scope.

Takeaways, Limitations

Takeaways: Understand the general principles of DPO, comprehensively explain its various applications and cutting-edge variations, and identify the Limitations of DPO and suggest directions for improvement. Strengthen the theoretical foundation of DPO by clarifying the connection between loss functions and probabilistic selection theory. Extended features such as nonconvex objectives and abstention support can be naturally incorporated.
Limitations: While this paper provides a theoretical foundation for DPO, it offers limited guidance for practical applications. Experimental evaluation of the performance and efficiency of DPO for specific applications is lacking.
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