Vocabulary

Understand the term. Connect the concept.

A practical dictionary of 512 AI, machine learning, mathematics, and programming terms from HerbDev’s AI Vocabulary app. Start with a definition, explore an example, then follow the concepts behind it.

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Momentum

Optimization · Level 2 of 5

Momentum

An optimization technique that carries forward a moving average of update directions.

It can smooth noisy steps and accelerate motion along persistent directions.

Example

An optimizer keeps moving through a shallow region using its accumulated velocity.

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Audio transcript

Momentum. An optimization technique that carries forward a moving average of update directions. It can smooth noisy steps and accelerate motion along persistent directions. For example: An optimizer keeps moving through a shallow region using its accumulated velocity.

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This helps you understand what parameter updates are trying to improve and when they can fail.

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