Sample Unlearning

Definition ∞ Sample unlearning in machine learning refers to the process of removing the influence of specific data samples from a trained model. This operation aims to erase all knowledge derived from particular training examples, effectively making the model behave as if those samples were never used. It is a critical component for data privacy and regulatory compliance, such as the “right to be forgotten.” The objective is to precisely modify a model’s memory.
Context ∞ While primarily an AI concept, sample unlearning holds significant implications for privacy and data governance in decentralized systems and blockchain-based machine learning. News reports might cover its application in ensuring data subject rights within decentralized data marketplaces or AI protocols. Challenges include achieving verifiable and efficient unlearning, especially when models are distributed across multiple nodes. Research continues to refine methods for effective and auditable sample unlearning.