  We derive an explicit form of the dilaton potential in improved holographic
QCD (IHQCD) from the experimental data of the $\rho$ meson spectrum. For this
purpose we make use of the emergent bulk geometry obtained by deep learning
from the hadronic data in arXiv:2005.02636. Requiring that the geometry is a
solution of an IHQCD derives the corresponding dilaton potential backwards.
This determines the bulk action in a data-driven way, which enables us at the
same time to ensure that the deep learning proposal is a consistent gravity.
Furthermore, we find that the resulting potential satisfies the requirements
normally imposed in IHQCD, and that the holographic Wilson loop for the derived
model exhibits quark confinement.
