  Diffusion models have become increasingly popular for synthesizing
high-quality samples based on training datasets. However, given the oftentimes
enormous sizes of the training datasets, it is difficult to assess how training
data impact the samples produced by a trained diffusion model. The difficulty
of relating diffusion model inputs and outputs poses significant challenges to
model explainability and training data attribution. Here we propose a novel
solution that reveals how training data influence the output of diffusion
models through the use of ensembles. In our approach individual models in an
encoded ensemble are trained on carefully engineered splits of the overall
training data to permit the identification of influential training examples.
The resulting model ensembles enable efficient ablation of training data
influence, allowing us to assess the impact of training data on model outputs.
We demonstrate the viability of these ensembles as generative models and the
validity of our approach to assessing influence.
