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Tensorization of neural networks for improved privacy and interpretability

by José Ramón Pareja Monturiol, Alejandro Pozas-Kerstjens, David Pérez-García

Submission summary

Authors (as registered SciPost users): José Ramón Pareja Monturiol
Submission information
Preprint Link: scipost_202503_00007v3  (pdf)
Code repository: https://github.com/joserapa98/tensorization-nns
Date accepted: Nov. 24, 2025
Date submitted: Nov. 16, 2025, 8:22 p.m.
Submitted by: José Ramón Pareja Monturiol
Submitted to: SciPost Physics Core
Ontological classification
Academic field: Physics
Specialties:
  • Condensed Matter Physics - Computational
  • Mathematical Physics
  • Quantum Physics
Approaches: Theoretical, Experimental, Computational

Abstract

We present a tensorization algorithm for constructing tensor train/matrix product state (MPS) representations of functions, drawing on sketching and cross interpolation ideas. The method only requires black-box access to the target function and a small set of sample points defining the domain of interest. Thus, it is particularly well-suited for machine learning models, where the domain of interest is naturally defined by the training dataset. We show that this approach can be used to enhance the privacy and interpretability of neural network models. Specifically, we apply our decomposition to (i) obfuscate neural networks whose parameters encode patterns tied to the training data distribution, and (ii) estimate topological phases of matter that are easily accessible from the MPS representation. Additionally, we show that this tensorization can serve as an efficient initialization method for optimizing MPS in general settings, and that, for model compression, our algorithm achieves a superior trade-off between memory and time complexity compared to conventional tensorization methods of neural networks.

Author comments upon resubmission

We thank the Editor and the Referees for their time and constructive feedback. Following Referee 3’s suggestion, we have revised Section 4.2.1 to explicitly acknowledge the early derivations of the TT/MPS representation of the AKLT state and added the corresponding foundational references.

We hope this clarification resolves the remaining concern and that the manuscript is now suitable for publication in SciPost Physics Core.

List of changes

Added a clarification in Section 4.2.1 (lines 1097–1098) acknowledging the early derivations of the TT/MPS representation of the AKLT state and citing the foundational references.
Current status:
Accepted in target Journal

Editorial decision: For Journal SciPost Physics Core: Publish
(status: Editorial decision fixed and (if required) accepted by authors)

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