Accelerating Causal Algorithms for Industrial-scale Data: A Distributed Computing Approach with Ray Framework

Abstract: The increasing need for causal analysis in large-scale industrial datasets necessitates the development of efficient and scalable causal algorithms for real-world applications. This paper addresses the challenge of scaling causal algorithms in the context of conducting causal analysis on extensive datasets commonly encountered in industrial settings. Our proposed solution involves enhancing the scalability of causal algorithm libraries, such as EconML, by leveraging the parallelism capabilities offered by the distributed computing framework Ray. We explore the potential of parallelizing key iterative steps within causal algorithms to significantly reduce overall runtime, supported by a case study that examines the impact on estimation times and costs. Through this approach, we aim to provide a more effective solution for implementing causal analysis in large-scale industrial applications.