# Mean Embeddings with Test-Time Data Augmentation for Ensembling of Representations

Source: [Mean Embeddings with Test-Time Data Augmentation for Ensembling of Representations](<https://www.sota2.com/research/paper/68fa6a5d1e209131cea27b6d>)

Collection index: [llms.txt](<https://www.sota2.com/research/llms.txt>)

Data updated: 2025-10-25T23:23:37.152Z

Authors: Arsenii Ashukha, Andrei Atanov, Dmitry Vetrov

Published: 2021-06-15T10:49:46.000Z

## Abstract

Averaging predictions over a set of models -- an ensemble -- is widely used to improve predictive performance and uncertainty estimation of deep learning models. At the same time, many machine learning systems, such as search, matching, and recommendation systems, heavily rely on embeddings. Unfortunately, due to misalignment of features of independently trained models, embeddings, cannot be improved with a naive deep ensemble like approach. In this work, we look at the ensembling of representations and propose mean embeddings with test-time augmentation (MeTTA) simple yet well-performing recipe for ensembling representations. Empirically we demonstrate that MeTTA significantly boosts the quality of linear evaluation on ImageNet for both supervised and self-supervised models. Even more exciting, we draw connections between MeTTA, image retrieval, and transformation invariant models. We believe that spreading the success of ensembles to inference higher-quality representations is the important step that will open many new applications of ensembling.

## Recorded benchmark results

A research result applies to its stated dataset, split, metric and evaluation configuration. Compare like-for-like settings, preserve the metric's unit and direction, and distinguish paper-reported results from independent reproduction. The best result recorded here is not a claim of exhaustive, current global coverage.

## Original sources and implementation

[Original paper](<https://arxiv.org/abs/2106.08038>)

[PDF](<https://arxiv.org/pdf/2106.08038.pdf>)
