Preparing Datasets For AI Training: A Comprehensive Guide

Dataset preparation is a key part of machine learning. For artificial intelligence (AI) to be able to generate the desired responses, it needs to be trained on consistent, complete, and structured information. 

For example, Stable Diffusion model learning resources dictate that when you’re training your own Stable Diffusion model to create art in the style of a sub-genre of anime on Nightcafe, you’ll want to feed it images and relevant text descriptions primarily, or even exclusively, on that particular theme so that you get accurate generations–preparing datasets takes a lot of work because it’s the foundation your AI will be built upon. 

This is often the most intensive part of the process, taking up around 22% of the total time of a project. In this guide, we’ll explain the importance of dataset preparation and walk you through how to do it step-by-step.

What Is Dataset Preparation for AI Training?

Dataset preparation is usually the primary step in machine learning. It involves identifying, cleaning, and validating data before it’s fed to deep learning algorithms. It’s a key step because it ensures that data is comprehensive, free from errors, and properly formatted to ensure sound results from AI.

Why Is Dataset Preparation for AI Training Important?

Machine learning algorithms perform best when the data they’re trained on is clean. If they’re not formatted properly, they might not be processed. If data is missing or invalid, the algorithm produces bad results. 

If the data is poor, the outcomes become impractical. Dataset preparation prevents the occurrence of these issues and ensures that the data collected is well-curated and thoroughly validated to ensure the best results.

How to Prepare Datasets for AI Training

Preparing datasets for AI training is a multi-step process that starts with defining a problem and ends with feature engineering. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to go about it:

​​​​Formulate the Problem

Before you even begin to work with data, you must first determine the problem that you’re trying to solve. This will help you decide what data to collect and how to properly prepare it for your AI model.

Collect the Data

When you collect your data, it’s important to ask critical questions about the different factors that may bias the information. This may include the source, how the data is represented, and why it was collected.

It’s not uncommon to lack a primary data source (usually, these are only available to large organisations with years of data collection behind them, like those in the medical field). Fortunately, there are multiple resources to compensate; you can rely on open-source datasets, like those from Google, or use publicly available data from reliable sources. You can also get information from public and private APIs, direct suppliers, and surveys.

Transform the Data

Data needs to be compatible with your analytics techniques and AI models for it to be processed properly. This means that you must take the time to transform raw data into something that works with the system, such as ‘.csv,’ files, in a process called “data transformation.”

Analyse the Data

Exploratory data analysis is required to identify any inconsistencies in the data that need to be standardised and to determine the relationship between values. It seems that this step should be done by the machine, but data scientists using statistical parameters can better work out this process to better understand the data collected and how they can vary relative to your problem and desired outcomes.

Clean and Validate the Data

After finding what’s wrong with the data, it’s time to clean and validate it. Through various techniques and tools, you must rectify any inconsistencies, missing data, outliers, anomalies, etc. 

Structure the Data

Most algorithms work better when the data is structured based on the best way for them to process it. In this step, you must regularise or standardise your data, which may involve data reduction and/or normalisation or creating separate datasets depending on different stages of the machine learning process.

Select Features

Using basic logic and reasoning, you can then prepare a feature subspace containing features relevant to your AI model. At the same time, you can weed out non-relevant data to prevent problems like overfitting or extended training. 

Engineer Features

The last step in dataset preparation is feature engineering, which refers to the addition or creation of new variables to improve the output of your AI model. These may include extracting, decomposing, or aggregating variables, or transforming features.

Preparing Datasets for AI Training for Custom Models in Nightcafe

Good dataset preparation is important for all types of AI training, including those that involve text-to-image art generation, such as when you’re creating custom models for Nightcafe. Be sure that your datasets are clean to improve your generated images!