Parallelizing Spectral Algorithms for Kernel Learning

Abstract: We consider a distributed learning approach in supervised learning for a large class of spectral regularization methods in an RKHS framework. The data set of size n is partitioned into $m=O(n^\alpha)$ disjoint subsets. On each subset, some spectral regularization method (belonging to a large class, including in particular Kernel Ridge Regression, $L^2$-boosting and spectral cut-off) is applied. The regression function $f$ is then estimated via simple averaging, leading to a substantial reduction in computation time. We show that minimax optimal rates of convergence are preserved if m grows sufficiently slowly (corresponding to an upper bound for $\alpha$) as $n \to \infty$, depending on the smoothness assumptions on $f$ and the intrinsic dimensionality. In spirit, our approach is classical.