Synthetic Query Probing: Comparing Similarity Spaces Across Embeddings

pppeer · reddit · 2026-08-10

When swapping embedding models, how do you evaluate score differences and retrieval thresholds? The author proposes a simple method called "Synthetic Query Probing."

Since vector spaces aren't directly comparable, this approach compares their similarity spaces: calculating match scores for pairs of (synthetic question, chunk) across models. Experiments show that scores from different-dimensional Titan models are linearly related, whereas the relationship between Titan and Ada is non-linear with distinct ranges. This method helps in setting appropriate thresholds when migrating models.

Original post →

More from Research

Research channel →