Interactive Analysis of CNN Robustness

Information

• Publication Type: Journal Paper with Conference Talk
• Workgroup(s)/Project(s):
  • Visualization Group
• Date: October 2021
• Journal: Computer Graphics Forum
• Volume: 40
• Open Access: yes
• Lecturer: Stefan Sietzen
• Event: Pacific Graphics 2021
• DOI: 10.1111/cgf.14418
• Call for Papers: Call for Paper
• Pages: 12
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Conference date: 18. October 2021 – 21. October 2021
• Pages: 253 – 264
• Keywords: Computer Graphics and Computer-Aided Design

Abstract

While convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have found wide adoption as state-of-the-art models for image-related tasks, their predictions are often highly sensitive to small input perturbations, which the human vision is robust against. This paper presents Perturber, a web-based application that allows users to instantaneously explore how CNN activations and predictions evolve when a 3D input scene is interactively perturbed. Perturber offers a large variety of scene modifications, such as camera controls, lighting and shading effects, background modifications, object morphing, as well as adversarial attacks, to facilitate the discovery of potential vulnerabilities. Fine-tuned model versions can be directly compared for qualitative evaluation of their robustness. Case studies with machine learning experts have shown that Perturber helps users to quickly generate hypotheses about model vulnerabilities and to qualitatively compare model behavior. Using quantitative analyses, we could replicate users' insights with other CNN architectures and input images, yielding new insights about the vulnerability of adversarially trained models.

Additional Files and Images

Weblinks

• online tool
  Perturber online tool for interactive analysis of CNN robustness
• Entry in reposiTUm (TU Wien Publication Database)
• Entry in the publication database of TU-Wien
• DOI: 10.1111/cgf.14418

BibTeX

@article{sietzen-2021-perturber,
  title =      "Interactive Analysis of CNN Robustness",
  author =     "Stefan Sietzen and Mathias Lechner and Judy Borowski and
               Ramin Hasani and Manuela Waldner",
  year =       "2021",
  abstract =   "While convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have found wide
               adoption as state-of-the-art models for image-related tasks,
               their predictions are often highly sensitive to small input
               perturbations, which the human vision is robust against.
               This paper presents Perturber, a web-based application that
               allows users to instantaneously explore how CNN activations
               and predictions evolve when a 3D input scene is
               interactively perturbed. Perturber offers a large variety of
               scene modifications, such as camera controls, lighting and
               shading effects, background modifications, object morphing,
               as well as adversarial attacks, to facilitate the discovery
               of potential vulnerabilities. Fine-tuned model versions can
               be directly compared for qualitative evaluation of their
               robustness. Case studies with machine learning experts have
               shown that Perturber helps users to quickly generate
               hypotheses about model vulnerabilities and to qualitatively
               compare model behavior. Using quantitative analyses, we
               could replicate users' insights with other CNN architectures
               and input images, yielding new insights about the
               vulnerability of adversarially trained models. ",
  month =      oct,
  journal =    "Computer Graphics Forum",
  volume =     "40",
  doi =        "10.1111/cgf.14418",
  pages =      "12",
  publisher =  "John Wiley and Sons",
  pages =      "253--264",
  keywords =   "Computer Graphics and Computer-Aided Design",
  URL =        "https://www.cg.tuwien.ac.at/research/publications/2021/sietzen-2021-perturber/",
}