mlsanityData to 7 Oct 2026

Attention Scheme Inspired Softmax Regression

arXiv 2304.10411 ↗First posted 20 Apr 2023cs.LGcited by 49

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Abstract (arXiv)

Large language models (LLMs) have made transformed changes for human society. One of the key computation in LLMs is the softmax unit. This operation is important in LLMs because it allows the model to generate a distribution over possible next words or phrases, given a sequence of input words. This distribution is then used to select the most likely next word or phrase, based on the probabilities assigned by the model. The softmax unit plays a crucial role in training LLMs, as it allows the model to learn from the data by adjusting the weights and biases of the neural network. In the area of convex optimization such as using central path method to solve linear programming. The softmax function has been used a crucial tool for controlling the progress and stability of potential function [Cohen, Lee and Song STOC 2019, Brand SODA 2020]. In this work, inspired the softmax unit, we define a softmax regression problem. Formally speaking, given a matrix A ∈ ℝn × d and a vector b ∈ ℝn, the goal is to use greedy type algorithm to solve beginalign* minx | langle exp(Ax), bf 1n rangle-1 exp(Ax) - b |22. endalign* In certain sense, our provable convergence result provides theoretical support for why we can use greedy algorithm to train softmax function in practice.

Key facts. Cited by 49 papers in the map (data through 7 Oct 2026). Builds on 40 of its 66 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 20 Apr 2023.

Builds on

40 of 66 references.

References · 40

  1. 2017Attention Is All You Needcited by 59,932
  2. 2018BERT: Pre-training of Deep Bidirectional Transformers for Language Understandingcited by 40,204
  3. 2020Language Models are Few-Shot Learnerscited by 32,199
  4. 2023GPT-4 Technical Reportcited by 18,132
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  10. 2023A Watermark for Large Language Modelscited by 667
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  12. 2023Fast Attention Requires Bounded Entriescited by 102
28 more
  1. 2018Solving Linear Programs in the Current Matrix Multiplication Timecited by 100
  2. 2023On Provable Copyright Protection for Generative Modelscited by 97
  3. 2023How Do Transformers Learn Topic Structure: Towards a Mechanistic Understandingcited by 85
  4. 2018On the Convergence Rate of Training Recurrent Neural Networkscited by 82
  5. 2021Training Multi-Layer Over-Parametrized Neural Network in Subquadratic Timecited by 62
  6. 2020Training (Overparametrized) Neural Networks in Near-Linear Timecited by 58
  7. 2023KDEformer: Accelerating Transformers via Kernel Density Estimationcited by 58
  8. 2020An Improved Cutting Plane Method for Convex Optimization, Convex-Concave Games and its Applicationscited by 57
  9. 2020A Refined Laser Method and Faster Matrix Multiplicationcited by 56
  10. 2019Solving Empirical Risk Minimization in the Current Matrix Multiplication Timecited by 53
  11. 2020A Faster Interior Point Method for Semidefinite Programmingcited by 53
  12. 2023An Over-parameterized Exponential Regressioncited by 45
  13. 2020Faster Dynamic Matrix Inverse for Faster LPscited by 44
  14. 2023Solving Regularized Exp, Cosh and Sinh Regression Problemscited by 44
  15. 2019A Deterministic Linear Program Solver in Current Matrix Multiplication Timecited by 42
  16. 2021Approximating How Single Head Attention Learnscited by 38
  17. 2023Algorithm and Hardness for Dynamic Attention Maintenance in Large Language Modelscited by 37
  18. 2023Randomized and Deterministic Attention Sparsification Algorithms for Over-parameterized Feature Dimensioncited by 37
  19. 2022A Faster Small Treewidth SDP Solvercited by 36
  20. 2021Solving SDP Faster: A Robust IPM Framework and Efficient Implementationcited by 33
  21. 2023Low Rank Matrix Completion via Robust Alternating Minimization in Nearly Linear Timecited by 31
  22. 2020A Nearly-Linear Time Algorithm for Linear Programs with Small Treewidth: A Multiscale Representation of Robust Central Pathcited by 29
  23. 2022Bypass Exponential Time Preprocessing: Fast Neural Network Training via Weight-Data Correlation Preprocessingcited by 29
  24. 2022Faster Algorithm for Structured John Ellipsoid Computationcited by 28
  25. 2019A near-optimal algorithm for approximating the John Ellipsoidcited by 23
  26. 2022Discrepancy Minimization in Input-Sparsity Timecited by 22
  27. 2023A General Algorithm for Solving Rank-one Matrix Sensingcited by 15
  28. 2023Convex Minimization with Integer Minima in widetilde O(n4) Timecited by 12

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Citing papers per year: 2023: 34; 2024: 9; 2025: 6.

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  5. 2023In-Context Learning for Attention Scheme: from Single Softmax Regression to Multiple Softmax Regression via a Tensor Trickcited by 32
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  10. 2023How to Protect Copyright Data in Optimization of Large Language Models?cited by 26
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  6. 2024Exploring the Frontiers of Softmax: Provable Optimization, Applications in Diffusion Model, and Beyondcited by 15
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  15. 2023Efficient Alternating Minimization with Applications to Weighted Low Rank Approximationcited by 9
  16. 2023An Automatic Learning Rate Schedule Algorithm for Achieving Faster Convergence and Steeper Descentcited by 9
  17. 2023Local Convergence of Approximate Newton Method for Two Layer Nonlinear Regressioncited by 9
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  20. 2023The Expressibility of Polynomial based Attention Schemecited by 7
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  22. 2023A Theoretical Insight into Attack and Defense of Gradient Leakage in Transformercited by 6
  23. 2023One Pass Streaming Algorithm for Super Long Token Attention Approximation in Sublinear Spacecited by 6
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  31. 2025Impact of Positional Encoding: Clean and Adversarial Rademacher Complexity for Transformers under In-Context Regressioncited by 2
  32. 2024Binary Hypothesis Testing for Softmax Models and Leverage Score Modelscited by 1
  33. 2025Towards Sampling Data Structures for Tensor Products in Turnstile Streamscited by 1
  34. 2025Unifying Learning Dynamics and Generalization in Transformers Scaling Lawcited by 1
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