CANDY: A Benchmark for Continuous Approximate Nearest Neighbor Search with Dynamic Data Ingestion

Approximate K Nearest Neighbor (AKNN) algorithms play a pivotal role in various AI applications, including information retrieval, computer vision, and natural language processing. Although numerous AKNN algorithms and benchmarks have been developed recently to evaluate their effectiveness, the dynamic nature of real-world data presents significant challenges that existing benchmarks fail to address. Traditional benchmarks primarily assess retrieval effectiveness in static contexts and often overlook update efficiency, which is crucial for handling continuous data ingestion. This limitation results in an incomplete assessment of an AKNN algorithms ability to adapt to changing data patterns, thereby restricting insights into their performance in dynamic environments. To address these gaps, we introduce CANDY, a benchmark tailored for Continuous Approximate Nearest Neighbor Search with Dynamic Data Ingestion. CANDY comprehensively assesses a wide range of AKNN algorithms, integrating advanced optimizations such as machine learning-driven inference to supplant traditional heuristic scans, and improved distance computation methods to reduce computational overhead. Our extensive evaluations across diverse datasets demonstrate that simpler AKNN baselines often surpass more complex alternatives in terms of recall and latency. These findings challenge established beliefs about the necessity of algorithmic complexity for high performance. Furthermore, our results underscore existing challenges and illuminate future research opportunities. We have made the datasets and implementation methods available at: https://github.com/intellistream/candy.

Harnessing Scalable Transactional Stream Processing for Managing Large Language Models [Vision]

Large Language Models (LLMs) have demonstrated extraordinary performance across a broad array of applications, from traditional language processing tasks to interpreting structured sequences like time-series data. Yet, their effectiveness in fast-paced, online decision-making environments requiring swift, accurate, and concurrent responses poses a significant challenge. This paper introduces TStreamLLM, a revolutionary framework integrating Transactional Stream Processing (TSP) with LLM management to achieve remarkable scalability and low latency. By harnessing the scalability, consistency, and fault tolerance inherent in TSP, TStreamLLM aims to manage continuous & concurrent LLM updates and usages efficiently. We showcase its potential through practical use cases like real-time patient monitoring and intelligent traffic management. The exploration of synergies between TSP and LLM management can stimulate groundbreaking developments in AI and database research. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of challenges and opportunities in this emerging field, setting forth a roadmap for future exploration and development.