Using Torch

In addition to the built-in models, Concrete ML supports generic machine learning models implemented with Torch, or exported as ONNX graphs.

There are two approaches to build FHE-compatible deep networks:

• Quantization Aware Training (QAT) requires using custom layers, but can quantize weights and activations to low bit-widths. Concrete ML works with Brevitas, a library providing QAT support for PyTorch. To use this mode, compile models using compile_brevitas_qat_model

• Post-training Quantization: This mode allows a vanilla PyTorch model to be compiled. However, when quantizing weights & activations to fewer than 7 bits, the accuracy can decrease strongly. On the other hand, depending on the model size, quantizing with 6-8 bits can be incompatible with FHE constraints. To use this mode, compile models with compile_torch_model.

Both approaches require the rounding_threshold_bits parameter to be set accordingly. The best values for this parameter need to be determined through experimentation. A good initial value to try is 6. See here for more details.

See the common compilation errors page for an explanation of some error messages that the compilation function may raise.

Quantization-aware training

The following example uses a simple QAT PyTorch model that implements a fully connected neural network with two hidden layers. Due to its small size, making this model respect FHE constraints is relatively easy. To use QAT, Brevitas QuantIdentity nodes must be inserted in the PyTorch model, including one that quantizes the input of the forward function.

import brevitas.nn as qnn
import torch.nn as nn
import torch

N_FEAT = 12
n_bits = 3

class QATSimpleNet(nn.Module):
    def __init__(self, n_hidden):
        super().__init__()

        self.quant_inp = qnn.QuantIdentity(bit_width=n_bits, return_quant_tensor=True)
        self.fc1 = qnn.QuantLinear(N_FEAT, n_hidden, True, weight_bit_width=n_bits, bias_quant=None)
        self.quant2 = qnn.QuantIdentity(bit_width=n_bits, return_quant_tensor=True)
        self.fc2 = qnn.QuantLinear(n_hidden, n_hidden, True, weight_bit_width=n_bits, bias_quant=None)
        self.quant3 = qnn.QuantIdentity(bit_width=n_bits, return_quant_tensor=True)
        self.fc3 = qnn.QuantLinear(n_hidden, 2, True, weight_bit_width=n_bits, bias_quant=None)

    def forward(self, x):
        x = self.quant_inp(x)
        x = self.quant2(torch.relu(self.fc1(x)))
        x = self.quant3(torch.relu(self.fc2(x)))
        x = self.fc3(x)
        return x

Once the model is trained, calling the compile_brevitas_qat_model from Concrete ML will automatically perform conversion and compilation of a QAT network. Here, 3-bit quantization is used for both the weights and activations. The compile_brevitas_qat_model function automatically identifies the number of quantization bits used in the Brevitas model.

from concrete.ml.torch.compile import compile_brevitas_qat_model
import numpy

torch_input = torch.randn(100, N_FEAT)
torch_model = QATSimpleNet(30)
quantized_module = compile_brevitas_qat_model(
    torch_model, # our model
    torch_input, # a representative input-set to be used for both quantization and compilation
    rounding_threshold_bits={"n_bits": 6, "method": "approximate"}
)

If QuantIdentity layers are missing for any input or intermediate value, the compile function will raise an error. See the common compilation errors page for an explanation.

Post-training quantization

The following example uses a simple PyTorch model that implements a fully connected neural network with two hidden layers. The model is compiled to use FHE using compile_torch_model.

import torch.nn as nn
import torch

N_FEAT = 12
n_bits = 6

class PTQSimpleNet(nn.Module):
    def __init__(self, n_hidden):
        super().__init__()

        self.fc1 = nn.Linear(N_FEAT, n_hidden)
        self.fc2 = nn.Linear(n_hidden, n_hidden)
        self.fc3 = nn.Linear(n_hidden, 2)

    def forward(self, x):
        x = torch.relu(self.fc1(x))
        x = torch.relu(self.fc2(x))
        x = self.fc3(x)
        return x

from concrete.ml.torch.compile import compile_torch_model
import numpy

torch_input = torch.randn(100, N_FEAT)
torch_model = PTQSimpleNet(5)
quantized_module = compile_torch_model(
    torch_model, # our model
    torch_input, # a representative input-set to be used for both quantization and compilation
    n_bits=6,
    rounding_threshold_bits={"n_bits": 6, "method": "approximate"}
)

Configuring quantization parameters

With QAT (the PyTorch/Brevitas models created following the example above), you need to configure quantization parameters such as bit_width (activation bit-width) and weight_bit_width. When using this mode, set n_bits=None in the compile_brevitas_qat_model.

With PTQ, you need to set the n_bits value in the compile_torch_model function and must manually determine the trade-off between accuracy, FHE compatibility, and latency.

The quantization parameters, along with the number of neurons on each layer, will determine the accumulator bit-width of the network. Larger accumulator bit-widths result in higher accuracy but slower FHE inference time.

Running encrypted inference

The model can now perform encrypted inference.

x_test = numpy.array([numpy.random.randn(N_FEAT)])

y_pred = quantized_module.forward(x_test, fhe="execute")

In this example, the input values x_test and the predicted values y_pred are floating points. The quantization (resp. de-quantization) step is done in the clear within the forward method, before (resp. after) any FHE computations.

Simulated FHE Inference in the clear

You can perform the inference on clear data in order to evaluate the impact of quantization and of FHE computation on the accuracy of their model. See this section for more details. Two approaches exist:

• quantized_module.forward(quantized_x, fhe="simulate"): simulates FHE execution taking into account Table Lookup errors. De-quantization must be done in a second step as for actual FHE execution. Simulation takes into account the p_error/global_p_error parameters

• quantized_module.forward(quantized_x, fhe="disable"): computes predictions in the clear on quantized data, and then de-quantize the result. The return value of this function contains the de-quantized (float) output of running the model in the clear. Calling this function on clear data is useful when debugging, but this does not perform actual FHE simulation.

FHE simulation allows to measure the impact of the Table Lookup error on the model accuracy. The Table Lookup error can be adjusted using p_error/global_p_error, as described in the approximate computation section.

Supported operators and activations

Concrete ML supports a variety of PyTorch operators that can be used to build fully connected or convolutional neural networks, with normalization and activation layers. Moreover, many element-wise operators are supported.

Operators

Univariate operators

• torch.nn.identity
• torch.clip
• torch.clamp
• torch.round
• torch.floor
• torch.min
• torch.max
• torch.abs
• torch.neg
• torch.sign
• torch.logical_or, torch.Tensor operator ||
• torch.logical_not
• torch.gt, torch.greater
• torch.ge, torch.greater_equal
• torch.lt, torch.less
• torch.le, torch.less_equal
• torch.eq
• torch.where
• torch.exp
• torch.log
• torch.pow
• torch.sum
• torch.mul, torch.Tensor operator *
• torch.div, torch.Tensor operator /
• torch.nn.BatchNorm2d
• torch.nn.BatchNorm3d
• torch.erf, torch.special.erf
• torch.nn.functional.pad

Shape modifying operators

• torch.reshape
• torch.Tensor.view
• torch.flatten
• torch.unsqueeze
• torch.squeeze
• torch.transpose
• torch.concat, torch.cat
• torch.nn.Unfold

Tensor operators

• torch.Tensor.expand
• torch.Tensor.to -- for casting to dtype

Multi-variate operators: encrypted input and unencrypted constants

• torch.nn.Linear
• torch.conv1d, torch.nn.Conv1D
• torch.conv2d, torch.nn.Conv2D
• torch.nn.AvgPool2d
• torch.nn.MaxPool2d

Concrete ML also supports some of their QAT equivalents from Brevitas.

• brevitas.nn.QuantLinear

• brevitas.nn.QuantConv1d

• brevitas.nn.QuantConv2d

Multi-variate operators: encrypted+unencrypted or encrypted+encrypted inputs

• torch.add, torch.Tensor operator +
• torch.sub, torch.Tensor operator -
• torch.matmul

Quantizers

• brevitas.nn.QuantIdentity

Activation functions

• torch.nn.CELU
• torch.nn.ELU
• torch.nn.GELU
• torch.nn.Hardshrink
• torch.nn.HardSigmoid
• torch.nn.Hardswish
• torch.nn.HardTanh
• torch.nn.LeakyReLU
• torch.nn.LogSigmoid
• torch.nn.Mish
• torch.nn.PReLU
• torch.nn.ReLU6
• torch.nn.ReLU
• torch.nn.SELU
• torch.nn.Sigmoid
• torch.nn.SiLU
• torch.nn.Softplus
• torch.nn.Softshrink
• torch.nn.Softsign
• torch.nn.Tanh
• torch.nn.Tanhshrink
• torch.nn.Threshold -- partial support

The equivalent versions from torch.functional are also supported.

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