Fine-tuning vs. Feature-based Approaches

Fine-tuning and feature-based approaches are two common techniques in transfer learning, a machine learning method where a pre-trained model is reused as a starting point for a new task.

Fine-tuning involves adjusting the weights of a pre-trained model on a new dataset. This method is more computationally intensive but can lead to better performance, especially when the new task is similar to the original task.

Feature-based approaches, on the other hand, extract features from a pre-trained model and use them as input for a new model. This method is less computationally intensive and can be effective when the new task is different from the original task.

Key Differences:

Feature Fine-tuning Feature-based
Model Modification Adjusts weights of pre-trained model Extracts features, trains new model
Computational Cost Higher Lower
Task Similarity Best for similar tasks Can be used for diverse tasks
Data Requirements More data needed Less data needed