AI Rookies

BP — Belief Propagation

Fact

A method that passes local messages in a graph to estimate probabilities.

In Plain Words

BP is like a homework group chat. Each kid sends one sure answer, and the whole sheet starts making sense.

In graph models, it passes small probability messages. You meet it in inference and error-correcting codes. On neat graphs, it is fast and accurate.

Related Concepts

Bayesian Network
BP passes messages in a Bayesian Network to estimate node probabilities.

PGM
BP is a classic inference algorithm for PGMs.

VI
BP and VI both estimate probabilities when exact math is too hard.

GNN
GNN message passing has a family resemblance to BP.