mlsanityData to 14 Oct 2026

sbi reloaded: a toolkit for simulation-based inference workflows

arXiv 2411.17337 ↗First posted 26 Nov 2024cs.LGcited by 23

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Abstract (arXiv)

Scientists and engineers use simulators to model empirically observed phenomena. However, tuning the parameters of a simulator to ensure its outputs match observed data presents a significant challenge. Simulation-based inference (SBI) addresses this by enabling Bayesian inference for simulators, identifying parameters that match observed data and align with prior knowledge. Unlike traditional Bayesian inference, SBI only needs access to simulations from the model and does not require evaluations of the likelihood function. In addition, SBI algorithms do not require gradients through the simulator, allow for massive parallelization of simulations, and can perform inference for different observations without further simulations or training, thereby amortizing inference. Over the past years, we have developed, maintained, and extended sbi, a PyTorch-based package that implements Bayesian SBI algorithms based on neural networks. The sbi toolkit implements a wide range of inference methods, neural network architectures, sampling methods, and diagnostic tools. In addition, it provides well-tested default settings, but also offers flexibility to fully customize every step of the simulation-based inference workflow. Taken together, the sbi toolkit enables scientists and engineers to apply state-of-the-art SBI methods to black-box simulators, opening up new possibilities for aligning simulations with empirically observed data.

Key facts. Cited by 23 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026). Builds on 27 of its 61 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 26 Nov 2024.

Builds on

27 of 61 references.

References · 27

  1. 2020Score-Based Generative Modeling through Stochastic Differential Equationscited by 9,122
  2. 2022Flow Matching for Generative Modelingcited by 5,702
  3. 2019Normalizing Flows for Probabilistic Modeling and Inferencecited by 1,323
  4. 2018Pyro: Deep Universal Probabilistic Programmingcited by 380
  5. 2018Sequential Neural Likelihood: Fast Likelihood-free Inference with Autoregressive Flowscited by 221
  6. 2019Automatic Posterior Transformation for Likelihood-Free Inferencecited by 219
  7. 2019Composable Effects for Flexible and Accelerated Probabilistic Programming in NumPyrocited by 191
  8. 2020BayesFlow: Learning complex stochastic models with invertible neural networkscited by 144
  9. 2018Validating Bayesian Inference Algorithms with Simulation-Based Calibrationcited by 124
  10. 2023Flow Matching for Scalable Simulation-Based Inferencecited by 101
  11. 2024All-in-one simulation-based inferencecited by 74
  12. 2016Fast ε-free Inference of Simulation Models with Bayesian Conditional Density Estimationcited by 52
15 more
  1. 2022Sequential Neural Score Estimation: Likelihood-Free Inference with Conditional Score Based Diffusion Modelscited by 50
  2. 2023Sampling-Based Accuracy Testing of Posterior Estimators for General Inferencecited by 46
  3. 2022Variational methods for simulation-based inferencecited by 43
  4. 2022Truncated proposals for scalable and hassle-free simulation-based inferencecited by 41
  5. 2023BayesFlow: Amortized Bayesian Workflows With Neural Networkscited by 32
  6. 2021Sequential Neural Posterior and Likelihood Approximationcited by 30
  7. 2023L-C2ST: Local Diagnostics for Posterior Approximations in Simulation-Based Inferencecited by 18
  8. 2023Adversarial robustness of amortized Bayesian inferencecited by 17
  9. 2023Generalized Bayesian Inference for Scientific Simulators via Amortized Cost Estimationcited by 17
  10. 2022Black-box Bayesian inference for economic agent-based modelscited by 13
  11. 2021A neural simulation-based inference approach for characterizing the Galactic Center γ-ray excesscited by 12
  12. 2022Accelerated Bayesian SED Modeling using Amortized Neural Posterior Estimationcited by 7
  13. 2022Calibrating Agent-based Models to Microdata with Graph Neural Networkscited by 7
  14. 2024Simulation-based Inference with the Python Package sbijaxcited by 6
  15. 2024A Comprehensive Guide to Simulation-based Inference in Computational Biologycited by 6

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Citing papers per year: 2025: 9; 2026: 14.

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  1. 2025Simulation-Based Inference: A Practical Guidecited by 32
  2. 2025Effortless, Simulation-Efficient Bayesian Inference using Tabular Foundation Modelscited by 13
  3. 2026A Probabilistic Framework for LLM-Based Model Discoverycited by 12
  4. 2025Multifidelity Simulation-based Inference for Computationally Expensive Simulatorscited by 9
  5. 2026BayesFlow 2: Multi-Backend Amortized Bayesian Inference in Pythoncited by 9
  6. 2025CP4SBI: Local Conformal Calibration of Credible Sets in Simulation-Based Inferencecited by 6
  7. 2025FNOPE: Simulation-based inference on function spaces with Fourier Neural Operatorscited by 4
  8. 2026Minimum Distance Summaries for Robust Neural Posterior Estimationcited by 3
  9. 2026Scalable Simulation-Based Model Inference with Test-Time Complexity Controlcited by 2
  10. 2025Learning Individual Reproductive Behavior from Aggregate Fertility Rates via Neural Posterior Estimationcited by 1
  11. 2026Supercharging Simulation-Based Inference for Bayesian Optimal Experimental Designcited by 1
  12. 2026Tokenised Flow Matching for Hierarchical Simulation Based Inferencecited by 1
11 more
  1. 2026An Introduction to Bayesian and Frequentist Simulation-Based Inference with Machine Learningcited by 1
  2. 2025Direct Fisher Score Estimation for Likelihood Maximizationcited by 0
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  4. 2025A differentiable model of supply-chain shockscited by 0
  5. 2026Neural Posterior Estimation of Terrain Parameters from Radar Sounder Datacited by 0
  6. 2026Mixed neural posterior estimation for simulators with discrete and continuous parameterscited by 0
  7. 2026Posterior Inference of Hamiltonian Parameters from RIXS Spectroscopycited by 0
  8. 2026Uncovering Hidden Leptonic Correlations with Flow Matching and Autoencoderscited by 0
  9. 2026Source Distribution Estimation by Posterior Averagingcited by 0
  10. 2026Simulation-Based Quantum System Inference with Neural Posterior Estimationcited by 0
  11. 2026Uncertainty Quantification in Cardiac Model Personalisation from Ultrafast Ultrasoundcited by 0