GAN Fundamentals  |  April 30, 2023

Data Generation with GANs: Creating More from Less

Generative Adversarial Networks, or GANs, are a type of machine learning algorithm based on neural networks. The main purpose of GANs is to generate new, real-looking data from a given data set. They do this by leveraging a combination of deep neural networks and supervised learning techniques. GANs can also be used for data augmentation, which is the process of adding more data to a data set in order to make it more robust. For example, if we have a data set of images of cats, we can use GANs to create more images of cats that look real but are not actually from the original data set.

Generative process

GANs use a two-part process to generate and augment data. The first part is the generative process, which consists of two neural networks – a generator and a discriminator. The generator takes in an input data set and generates new data, which is then shown to the discriminator. The discriminator analyses the data, and using supervised learning techniques, distinguishes between the original data and the generated data. The generator then “learns” from the discriminator’s feedback and adjusts its parameters accordingly.

Augmentative process

The second part of the process is the augmentative process. The augmented data is then added to the original data set, which improves its robustness and accuracy. Augmentation can be done in a variety of ways, such as adding noise or blurring images. GANs can also be used to generate data from structured datasets, such as text or tabular data. This technique could be used to detect outliers or anomalies in a data set.

In conclusion, GANs can be used for a variety of purposes, including data generation and data augmentation. The generative and augmentative processes can be used to create or enrich data sets, making them better suited to solve various problems. Using GANs is a relatively new technique but one that is showing promise in a variety of data-driven applications.