Abstract: Methods, computer systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for training a classification neural network. The system generates, from a set of object-specific data, one or more meta-learning datasets for one or more respective initial training tasks. The system determines values for a set of meta parameters by performing meta-learning with a classification neural network on the one or more meta-learning datasets. The system obtains a set of labeled training examples for a characteristic-detection task. The system determines based at least on one of the values for the set of meta parameters and using the set of labeled training examples, target values for the network parameters for the classification neural network to perform the characteristic-detection task.