Diffusion Model Paper Reading Group Debut #2 - Unified Perspective on Diffusion Models: Connecting VAE, VDM, and SGM
🗓 Agenda
[10 min] Welcome & community check-in
[40 min] 📄 Paper Discussion:
– Explain what is, and talk through the evolution from ELBO & VAEs → Variational Diffusion Models → Score-Based Generative Models
– Key ideas from “Understanding Diffusion Models: A Unified Perspective” (Calvin Luo, 2023)
– How different diffusion frameworks connect: DDPM, SDE, Score-based models
[10 min] Community Q&A + discussion
[5 min] What’s next in the Diffusion Study Group
📚 Pre-Class Learning
Skim this paper to get the most out of our session:
🧾 Understanding Diffusion Models: A Unified Perspective (Calvin Luo, 2023)
Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2208.11970
🧠 Why This Paper Matters
This paper gives one of the clearest overviews of the evolution and unification of generative diffusion models — ELBO-based models like VAEs, to Variational Diffusion Models (VDMs), and finally to Score-Based Generative Models (SGMs) — showing how they are connected under a unified mathematical perspective.
Ideal if you’ve been confused by the variety of approaches in GenAI — and want to build a deep foundation before tackling advanced models like Diffusion Transformers or Flow Matching.
✨ About the Diffusion Model Bootcamp
This diffusion model paperless reading group is a part of a 5-month, peer-led learning journey inspired by MIT’s diffusion model & flow matching course — independently designed to suit the needs of engineers, PMs, and curious builders.
🔹 You don’t need an ML background — just an interest in GenAI and a few focused hours a week.
🔹 We help you understand the landscape of diffusion model architectures — from basic ODE math concepts to the most important models related to diffusion models such as VAEs, DDPM, Flow Matching, and Diffusion Transformers.
🔹 You’ll also train your own model, build a real GenAI app, and explore modern tools like ComfyUI.
📚 Up-to-date curriculum | 💬 Monthly paper readings
🤝 Discussion-style 12 ppl class & supportive | 🧪 Final project
📅 Next cohort begins October 2025
📣 Limited spots — join this paper session to see if it’s the right fit for you!
👉 Questions? DM the organizer!