Abstract: Techniques for using enhanced logit values for classifying utterances and messages input to chatbot systems in natural language processing. A method can include a chatbot system receiving an utterance generated by a user interacting with the chatbot system and inputting the utterance into a machine-learning model including a series of network layers. A final network layer of the series of network layers can include a logit function. The machine-learning model can map a first probability for a resolvable class to a first logit value using the logit function. The machine-learning model can map a second probability for a unresolvable class to an enhanced logit value. The method can also include the chatbot system classifying the utterance as the resolvable class or the unresolvable class based on the first logit value and the enhanced logit value.

Abstract: Techniques for using logit values for classifying utterances and messages input to chatbot systems in natural language processing. A method can include a chatbot system receiving an utterance generated by a user interacting with the chatbot system. The chatbot system can input the utterance into a machine-learning model including a set of binary classifiers. Each binary classifier of the set of binary classifiers can be associated with a modified logit function. The method can also include the machine-learning model using the modified logit function to generate a set of distance-based logit values for the utterance. The method can also include the machine-learning model applying an enhanced activation function to the set of distance-based logit values to generate a predicted output. The method can also include the chatbot system classifying, based on the predicted output, the utterance as being associated with the particular class.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed herein for objective function optimization in target based hyperparameter tuning. In one aspect, a computer-implemented method is provided that includes initializing a machine learning algorithm with a set of hyperparameter values and obtaining a hyperparameter objective function that comprises a domain score for each domain that is calculated based on a number of instances within an evaluation dataset that are correctly or incorrectly predicted by the machine learning algorithm during a given trial. For each trial of a hyperparameter tuning process: training the machine learning algorithm to generate a machine learning model, running the machine learning model in different domains using the set of hyperparameter values, evaluating the machine learning model for each domain, and once the machine learning model has reached convergence, outputting at least one machine learning model.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed herein for continuous hyperparameter tuning with automatic domain weight adjustment based on periodic performance checkpoints. In one aspect, a method is provided that includes initializing a machine learning algorithm with a set of hyperparameter values and obtaining a hyperparameter objective function that is defined at least in part on a plurality of domains of a search space that is associated with the machine learning algorithm. For each trial of a hyperparameter tuning process: running the machine learning algorithm in different domains using the set of hyperparameter values, periodically checking a performance of the machine learning algorithm in the different domains based on the hyperparameter objective function; and continuing hyperparameter tuning with a new set of hyperparameter values after automatically adjusting the domain weights according to a regression status of the different domains.

Abstract: An augmentation and feature caching subsystem is described for training AI/ML models. In one particular aspect, a method is provided that includes receiving data comprising training examples, one or more augmentation configuration hyperparameters and one or more feature extraction configuration hyperparameters; generating a first key based on one of the training examples and the one or more augmentation configuration hyperparameters; searching a first key-value storage based on the first key; obtaining one or more augmentations based on the search of the first key-value storage; applying the obtained one or more augmentations to the training examples to result in augmented training examples; generating a second key based on one of the augmented training examples and the one or more feature extraction configuration hyperparameters; searching a second key-value storage based on the second key; obtaining one or more features based on the search of the second key-value storage.

Abstract: Novel techniques are described for negative entity-aware augmentation using a two-stage augmentation to improve the stability of the model to entity value changes for intent prediction. In some embodiments, a method comprises accessing a first set of training data for an intent prediction model, the first set of training data comprising utterances and intent labels; applying one or more negative entity-aware data augmentation techniques to the first set of training data, depending on the tuning requirements for hyper-parameters, to result in a second set of training data, where the one or more negative entity-aware data augmentation techniques comprise Keyword Augmentation Technique (“KAT”) plus entity without context technique and KAT plus entity in random context as OOD technique; combining the first set of training data and the second set of training data to generate expanded training data; and training the intent prediction model using the expanded training data.

Abstract: Novel techniques are described for data augmentation using a two-stage entity-aware augmentation to improve model robustness to entity value changes for intent prediction.

Abstract: Novel techniques are described for positive entity-aware augmentation using a two-stage augmentation to improve the stability of the model to entity value changes for intent prediction. In one particular aspect, a method is provided that includes accessing a first set of training data for an intent prediction model, the first set of training data comprising utterances and intent labels; applying one or more positive data augmentation techniques to the first set of training data, depending on the tuning requirements for hyper-parameters, to result in a second set of training data, where the positive data augmentation techniques comprise Entity-Aware (“EA”) technique and a two-stage augmentation technique; combining the first set of training data and the second set of training data to generate expanded training data; and training the intent prediction model using the expanded training data.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for generating training data to facilitate fine-tuning embedding models. Training data including anchor utterances is obtained. Positive utterances and negative utterances are generated from the anchor utterances. Tuples including the anchor utterances, the positive utterances, and the negative utterances are formed. Embeddings for the tuples are generated and a pre-trained embedding model is fine-tuned based on the embeddings. The fine-tuned model can be deployed to a system.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to techniques for identifying out-of-domain utterances.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to techniques for identifying out-of-domain utterances.

Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein relate generally to language detection. In one particular aspect, a method is provided that includes obtaining a sequence of n-grams of a textual unit; using an embedding layer to obtain an ordered plurality of embedding vectors for the sequence of n-grams; using a deep network to obtain an encoded vector that is based on the ordered plurality of embedding vectors; and using a classifier to obtain a language prediction for the textual unit that is based on the encoded vector. The deep network includes an attention mechanism, and using the embedding layer to obtain the ordered plurality of embedding vectors comprises, for each n-gram in the sequence of n-grams: obtaining hash values for the n-gram; based on the hash values, selecting component vectors from among the plurality of component vectors; and obtaining an embedding vector for the n-gram that is based on the component vectors.

Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein relate generally to text classification and include techniques for fusing word embeddings with word scores for text classification. In one particular aspect, a method for text classification is provided that includes obtaining an embedding vector for a textual unit, based on a plurality of word embedding vectors and a plurality of word scores. The plurality of word embedding vectors includes a corresponding word embedding vector for each of a plurality of words of the textual unit, and the plurality of word scores includes a corresponding word score for each of the plurality of words of the textual unit. The method also includes passing the embedding vector for the textual unit through at least one feed-forward layer to obtain a final layer output, and performing a classification on the final layer output.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for addressing an overconfidence problem associated with machine learning models in chatbot systems. For each layer of a plurality of layers of a machine learning model, a distribution of confidence scores is generated for a plurality of predictions with respect to an input utterance. A prediction is determined for each layer of the machine learning model based on the distribution of confidence scores generated for the layer. Based on the predictions, an overall prediction of the machine learning model is determined. A subset of the plurality of layers are iteratively processed to identify a layer whose assigned prediction satisfies a criterion. A confidence score associated with the assigned prediction of the layer of the machine learning model is assigned as an overall confidence score to be associated with the overall prediction of the machine learning model.

Abstract: Techniques for keyword data augmentation for training chatbot systems in natural language processing. In one particular aspect, a method is provided that includes receiving a training set of utterances for training a machine-learning model to identify one or more intents for one or more utterances, augmenting the training set of utterances with out-of-domain (OOD) examples. The augmenting includes: identifying keywords within utterances of the training set of utterances, generating a set of OOD examples with the identified keywords, filtering out OOD examples from the set of OOD examples that have a context substantially similar to context of the utterances of the training set of utterances, and incorporating the set of OOD examples without the filtered OOD examples into the training set of utterances to generate an augmented training set of utterances. Thereafter, the machine-learning model is trained using the augmented training set of utterances.

Abstract: Techniques for using logit values for classifying utterances and messages input to chatbot systems in natural language processing. A method can include a chatbot system receiving an utterance generated by a user interacting with the chatbot system. The chatbot system can input the utterance into a machine-learning model including a set of binary classifiers. Each binary classifier of the set of binary classifiers can be associated with a modified logit function. The method can also include the machine-learning model using the modified logit function to generate a set of distance-based logit values for the utterance. The method can also include the machine-learning model applying an enhanced activation function to the set of distance-based logit values to generate a predicted output. The method can also include the chatbot system classifying, based on the predicted output, the utterance as being associated with the particular class.

Abstract: Techniques for out-of-domain data augmentation for training chatbot systems in natural language processing. In one particular aspect, a method is provided that includes receiving a training set of utterances for training a machine-learning model to identify one or more intents for one or more utterances, and augmenting the training set of utterances with out-of-domain (OOD) examples. The augmenting includes: generating a data set of OOD examples, filtering out OOD examples from the data set of OOD examples, determining a difficulty value for each OOD example remaining within the filtered data set of the OOD examples, and generating augmented batches of utterances comprising utterances from the training set of utterances and utterances from the filtered data set of the OOD based on the difficulty value for each OOD. Thereafter, the machine-learning model is trained using the augmented batches of utterances in accordance with a curriculum training protocol.

Abstract: Techniques for using enhanced logit values for classifying utterances and messages input to chatbot systems in natural language processing. A method can include a chatbot system receiving an utterance generated by a user interacting with the chatbot system and inputting the utterance into a machine-learning model including a series of network layers. A final network layer of the series of network layers can include a logit function. The machine-learning model can map a first probability for a resolvable class to a first logit value using the logit function. The machine-learning model can map a second probability for a unresolvable class to an enhanced logit value. The method can also include the chatbot system classifying the utterance as the resolvable class or the unresolvable class based on the first logit value and the enhanced logit value.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to techniques for identifying out-of-domain utterances.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for tuning hyperparameters of a machine-learning model. A plurality of metrics are selected for which hyperparameters of the machine-learning model are to be tuned. Each metric is associated with a plurality of specification parameters including a target score, a penalty factor, and a bonus factor. The plurality of specification parameters are configured for each metric in accordance with a first criterion. The machine-learning model is evaluated using one or more validation datasets to obtain a metric score. A weighted loss function is formulated based on a difference between the metric score and the target score of each metric, the penalty factor or the bonus factor. The hyperparameters associated with the machine-learning model are tuned in order to optimize the weighted loss function. In response to the weighted loss function being optimized, the machine-learning model is provided as a validated machine-learning model.