ReLATE: Accelerating Tensor Decomposition via Safe and Efficient Learning of Sparse Encodings

Abstract:Tensor decomposition (TD) is essential for analyzing high-dimensional sparse data, yet its irregular computations and memory-access patterns pose major performance challenges on modern parallel processors. Prior works rely on expert-designed sparse tensor formats that fail to adapt to irregular tensor shapes and data distributions. We present the reinforcement-learned adaptive tensor encoding (ReLATE) framework, a learning-augmented method that discovers safe and efficient sparse encodings, without labeled examples, via a hybrid model-free and model-based algorithm that learns from both real and imagined actions. Moreover, ReLATE introduces elastic training, rule-driven action masking, and dynamics-informed action filtering to ensure correct encoding with bounded execution time, even during early learning. After offline training, with geometric-mean overhead of only 5.82% relative to TD workflow time, ReLATE deploys the best encoding with zero inference overhead. Across diverse real-world sparse tensors, ReLATE consistently outperforms the best expert-designed format by up to 2x, with a geometric-mean speedup of 1.38-1.41x.

Machine Learning (cs.LG); Distributed, Parallel, and Cluster Computing (cs.DC); Performance (cs.PF)

arXiv:2509.00280 [cs.LG]

(or arXiv:2509.00280v2 [cs.LG] for this version)

https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2509.00280 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite

arXivLabs is a framework that allows collaborators to develop and share new arXiv features directly on our website.

Both individuals and organizations that work with arXivLabs have embraced and accepted our values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. arXiv is committed to these values and only works with partners that adhere to them.

Have an idea for a project that will add value for arXiv's community? Learn more about arXivLabs.