Keynotes from our 23rd NLP Event: Finetuning LLMs

Finetuning LLMs: Between Necessity and Luxury

During the 23rd NLP event held on May 2nd, we digged in a timely and pivotal topic within the realm of Natural Language Processing: the finetuning of large language models (LLMs). This practice, often seen as both a necessity and a luxury, serves as a crucial method for enhancing model performance on specific tasks. As we advance in this blog post, we'll explore what finetuning entails, differentiate between various NLP tasks, and weigh the pros and cons of this approach.

What is Finetuning?

Finetuning is a specialized form of training where a pre-trained model, already skilled in a broad range of topics, is further trained (or "finetuned") on a smaller, task-specific dataset. This process allows the model to adapt its existing knowledge to perform better on tasks that require a more tailored understanding.

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Consider a large language model trained on diverse internet text. If this model is to be used for legal document analysis, finetuning it on a dataset composed of legal documents can enhance its ability to interpret legal jargon, structure, and nuances. This adaptation significantly improves its effectiveness and accuracy in the legal domain.

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Difference Between Closed-ended vs Open-ended Tasks

In the context of LLMs, tasks can generally be categorized as closed-ended or open-ended, each requiring different approaches and finetuning strategies.

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Closed-ended Tasks

Closed-ended tasks, such as classification, detection, and scoring, have a limited set of possible outputs. For example, a sentiment analysis model classifies text into categories like positive, negative, or neutral.

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Open-ended Tasks

Conversely, open-ended tasks involve generating text or content without fixed limits. Text generation, such as writing stories or composing emails, exemplifies open-ended tasks where the model produces varied and extensive outputs.

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In-between Tasks

Some tasks like summarization or retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) blend elements of both open and closed-ended tasks. For instance, summarization requires understanding a complete document (closed-ended comprehension) to produce a condensed version (open-ended generation).

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The Cons of Finetuning

Despite its benefits, finetuning LLMs comes with considerable drawbacks:

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Fixed to a Model

Finetuning ties you to a specific model architecture. If a new and improved model emerges, your finetuned version may become obsolete, necessitating a fresh round of finetuning.

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Risk of Poor Implementation

Improper prompt format and instructions can lead to a model that performs poorly or inconsistently.

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Time-Consuming

The process of finetuning requires additional training time, often necessitating computational resources that could be used elsewhere.

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Expensive

Finetuning can be costly not just in terms of computational resources but also in terms of the time required for training and inference, especially with very large models.

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The Pros of Finetuning

Despite these challenges, there are compelling reasons to finetune LLMs, especially for complex or specialized tasks:

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Improved Accuracy

Finetuning can significantly enhance the model's accuracy on specific tasks, making it more useful in professional settings.

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Efficient Inference

A finetuned model can be smaller and faster, reducing operational costs and speeding up inference times, which is crucial for applications needing real-time responses.

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Customization

Finetuning allows for the customization of the model to suit specific corporate needs or to align with particular user preferences, enhancing the model’s relevance and usability.

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Contextual Relevance

Companies can incorporate their specific context, jargon, and requirements into the model, making it more effective in their operational environment.

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Conclusion

The act of finetuning LLMs encapsulates the ongoing debate between necessity and luxury. While it presents challenges like cost, complexity, and the need for continuous updates, the benefits of increased accuracy, customization, and context-aware performance are undeniable. As technology progresses, the ability to customize and optimize AI tools will not just be a luxury; it will become a necessity to stay competitive and relevant. This makes the investment in finetuning not just worthwhile, but essential for future-proofing in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-driven industries.

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