An improved hyperparameter optimization framework for AutoML systems using evolutionary algorithms

For any machine learning model, finding the optimal hyperparameter setting has a direct and significant impact on the model’s performance. In this paper, we discuss different types of hyperparameter optimization techniques. We compare the performance of some of the hyperparameter optimization techniques on image classification datasets with the help of AutoML models. In particular, the paper studies Bayesian optimization in depth and proposes the use of genetic algorithm, differential evolution and covariance matrix adaptation—evolutionary strategy for acquisition function optimization. Moreover, we compare these variants of Bayesian optimization with conventional Bayesian optimization and observe that the use of covariance matrix adaptation—evolutionary strategy and differential evolution improves the performance of standard Bayesian optimization. We also notice that Bayesian optimization tends to perform poorly when genetic algorithm is used for acquisition function optimization.