Skip to yearly menu bar Skip to main content


Poster

On The Fairness Impacts of Hardware Selection in Machine Learning

Sree Harsha Nelaturu · Nishaanth Kanna · Cuong Tran · Sara Hooker · Ferdinando Fioretto


Abstract:

n the machine learning ecosystem, hardware selection is often regarded as a mere utility, overshadowed by the spotlight on algorithms and data. This is especially relevant in contexts like ML-as-a-service platforms, where users often lack control over the hardware used for model deployment. This paper investigates the influence of hardware on the delicate balance between model performance and fairness. We demonstrate that hardware choices can exacerbate existing disparities, attributing these discrepancies to variations in gradient flows and loss surfaces across different demographic groups. Through both theoretical and empirical analysis, the paper not only identifies the underlying factors but also proposes an effective strategy for mitigating hardware-induced performance imbalances.

Live content is unavailable. Log in and register to view live content