Understanding Retrieve and Rank in Document Search
What is Retrieve and Rank?
The “retrieve and rank” method is gaining popularity in document search systems. It works by first retrieving documents and then re-ordering them based on their relevance using a re-ranker.
The Role of Large Language Models (LLMs)
Recent advancements in generative AI and LLMs allow rankers to analyze language patterns for better ranking of documents. However, there’s a significant challenge: if a document is not retrieved initially, it can’t be ranked later, which means valuable information might be lost.
Introducing Adaptive Retrieval (AR)
What is Adaptive Retrieval?
Adaptive Retrieval (AR) is a solution that dynamically expands the document set based on the ranker’s insights. It uses clustering to group similar documents that may relate to a query, improving the chances of including relevant documents that were missed initially. Think of it as a smart feedback system that enhances retrieval outcomes.
Combining AR with LLMs: The SlideGar Approach
What is SlideGar?
Researchers have developed SlideGar, which combines AR with LLMs while recognizing their different approaches to scoring relevance. Instead of giving direct relevance scores, SlideGar outputs a ranked order of documents.
How Does SlideGar Work?
SlideGar uses AR techniques to identify document neighbors efficiently. It processes the initial document pool for a query and ranks a set number of documents sequentially. This method uses a sliding window approach to manage input context effectively.
Practical Implementation
The researchers tested SlideGar using the MSMARCO corpus and various datasets, achieving impressive results. They found that SlideGar improved the nDGC@10 score by up to 13% and recall by 28% without adding significant computation time.
Conclusion: The Value of SlideGar
SlideGar effectively addresses the bounded recall challenge, merging the strengths of AR and LLMs. This innovation is a significant step forward for researchers looking to optimize ranking systems.
Explore Further
For a deeper understanding, check out the original paper and follow the research team on social media. To leverage AI for your business, consider how SlideGar can enhance your operations.
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