Synthetic data refers to data that is artificially generated rather than collected from real-world sources. It is often used in machine learning and AI applications to train and test models, as well as in computer simulations and other research. There are various methods for generating synthetic data, including computer programs, mathematical models, and physical simulations.
There are several ways synthetic data can be used in AI and machine learning applications. Some examples include:
- Data augmentation: Synthetic data can augment existing real-world datasets by generating new examples similar to the ones already present. This can help improve machine learning models’ performance by providing them with more diverse and representative training data.
- Anonymisation: Synthetic data can replace real-world data that is sensitive or private, such as personal information or medical records. By using synthetic data, it is possible to preserve the patterns and relationships in the original data while removing any sensitive information.
- Overcoming data scarcity: Synthetic data can be used to generate datasets for machine learning models in situations where obtaining real-world data is difficult or prohibitively expensive. For example, there may be legal or ethical barriers to obtaining real-world data in specific industries like finance or healthcare.
- Pre-training: Synthetic data can be used to pre-train machine learning models before fine-tuning them on real-world data. This approach can improve the model’s performance by giving it a general understanding of the task before it is exposed to the complexities of real-world data.
- Generative models: Synthetic data can be used to train generative models, such as Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) and Variational Autoencoders (VAEs), which can generate new data samples that are similar to real-world data.
- Synthetic data can also be used to evaluate the robustness and generalisation of AI models. By generating synthetic samples similar to real-world examples but with variations, it is possible to assess the models’ ability to generalise to new data and evaluate their robustness against adversarial attacks.
It’s important to note that not all synthetic data is created equal, and the quality of the synthetic data will affect the performance of the trained models. Additionally, synthetic data may not always reflect the real-world data distribution, so evaluating the model’s performance on real-world data is essential.
Synthetic data can also be used to overcome data bias by generating a more diverse and representative dataset. In real-world datasets, specific groups or demographics may need to be more represented, leading to biased models performing poorly on these groups. By generating synthetic data that is more representative, it is possible to train models that are more fair and accurate across different groups.
Synthetic data can be a valuable tool for addressing bias in AI and machine learning, but more is needed. For example, synthetic data can generate more diverse and representative datasets, which helps reduce bias in the trained models. However, synthetic data can also introduce bias if it is not developed carefully or if it is not representative of real-world data distribution.
In addition, it’s important to note that bias in AI can come from multiple sources, such as the data, the model architecture, the training process, and the evaluation metrics. Therefore, addressing bias in AI requires a comprehensive approach that involves multiple steps, such as data preprocessing, model selection, monitoring and debugging during training, and evaluating the model performance on real-world data.
Another critical factor is to ensure that the synthetic data represents the diversity of the natural world, including age, gender, race, and other factors that can introduce bias, and also try to replicate the real-world distribution of the data.
One common source is the data used to train the AI model. If the data used to train the model is not representative of the population, it will be used, or if it includes certain biases, the model will likely reflect those biases. For example, if a facial recognition model is trained on a dataset mainly composed of images of people with light skin, it may not perform as well on people with darker skin.
Another source of bias in AI can come from the algorithms used to train the model. For example, some algorithms may be more prone to certain types of discrimination than others. Additionally, how the algorithm is designed and configured can also introduce bias. For example, if the algorithm is designed to optimise for a specific metric, such as accuracy, it may inadvertently perpetuate existing biases in the data.
Another source of bias may come from the people who design, build, and operate AI systems. They may unconsciously or consciously introduce bias into the systems due to their unconscious or conscious biases.
In summary, bias in AI can come from various sources, including the data used to train the model, the algorithms used to train the model, and the people who design, build, and operate the AI systems.
There are some ways synthetic data can be used in simulations and virtual environments:
- Training agents: Synthetic data can be used to train agents, such as robots or self-driving cars, in simulated environments similar to the real world. This can provide a safe and controlled setting for training and testing without the risks and expenses associated with physical experiments.
- Testing: Synthetic data can be used to test agents and robotic systems in a virtual environment by generating test cases tailored to the system’s specific characteristics. This helps identify bugs or other issues in the system that might not be apparent when testing with real-world data.
- Scenario simulation: Synthetic data can be used to simulate scenarios that are difficult or impossible to replicate in real life, such as extreme weather conditions or rare diseases. This can be useful in self-driving cars, weather forecasting, and medical research.
- Synthetic data can train and test reinforcement learning models, providing the model with many possible scenarios and actions. This can improve the model’s performance by giving it more diverse and representative training data.
Creating synthetic data for simulations and virtual environments requires specialised knowledge and expertise. For example, it might require knowledge of physics, computer graphics, and programming, depending on the nature of the simulation or virtual environment. Additionally, synthetic data should be as close as possible to the real-world data distribution to be helpful.
Several companies and organisations offer synthetic data for purchase or licensing. These include:
Data generation companies: Several companies specialise in generating synthetic data, such as Synthetic Minds, DataRobot, and Cognac. These companies can generate synthetic data for various applications, such as machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing.
Data annotation companies: Some companies, such as Scale AI and Appen, offer synthetic data generation services, including data annotation, data labelling, and data curation.
Industry-specific providers: Some companies focus on providing synthetic data for specific industries, such as self-driving cars, weather forecasting, and medical research. For example, Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet (Google), provides synthetic data for autonomous vehicles.
Open-source datasets: There are also open-source datasets that can be used as synthetic data, such as the popular ImageNet dataset, which contains millions of images and their annotations, and can be used for computer vision tasks.
Research institutions and universities: Some research institutions and universities also offer synthetic datasets, such as the Center for Machine Perception at Czech Technical University in Prague, which provides the SYNTHIA dataset, a synthetic dataset for the semantic segmentation of urban scenes.
It’s important to note that the quality and suitability of synthetic data can vary widely depending on the source, so it’s essential to evaluate the data carefully before using it for training or testing models. Additionally, it’s critical to check the data’s terms of use and license agreement before using it.
In summary, synthetic data can be used in various ways in AI and machine learning, from data augmentation and anonymisation to testing and scenario simulation. It can also help overcome data scarcity, pre-training, and evaluation of models’ robustness and generalisation and overcome data bias. However, it’s important to note that the quality of synthetic data must be high enough to be helpful, and the models trained on it must also be evaluated on real-world data.
Max Vince is a dynamic and passionate professional who is currently part of the customer success team at Disruptive Live. With a background in customer service and account management, Max brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his role at Disruptive Live. He is dedicated to helping customers achieve their goals and is committed to providing them with the best possible service.