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arXiv research

A locally-built, LLM-digested index of recent arXiv papers in quant finance, geometry/topology, and statistical ML — keyword search served straight from SQLite on this machine.

168,695 papers · 148 categories

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131262392523 · Jun 202019922001200920172026
48 results for Optimistically Biased Estimator

The estimation of advantage is crucial for a number of reinforcement learning algorithms, as it directly influences the choices of future paths. In this work, we propose a family of estimates based on the order statistics over the path ensemble, which allows one to flexibly drive the learning process, towards or agains…

2019-09-15abs ↗pdf ↗

A new algorithm tackles adversarial linear contextual bandits using kernelized loss functions.

problem Online learning in adversarial linear contextual bandits with flexible loss functions.
method Proposes a computationally efficient algorithm using an optimistically biased estimator for reproducing kernel Hilbert space loss functions.
result Achieves near-optimal regret guarantees under polynomial and exponential eigendecay assumptions.

Develops an accelerated algorithm for solving nonmonotone generalized equations.

problem Solving nonmonotone generalized equations with possibly non-accelerated schemes.
method Combines Nesterov's acceleration and variance-reduction techniques for a class of generalized equations.
result Achieves O(1/k2)\mathcal{O}(1/k^2) convergence rates, improving upon non-accelerated counterparts.

Optimistic estimate predicts best fitting performance of nonlinear models.

problem Evaluating the potential of nonlinear models in fitting.
method Proposes an optimistic estimate to quantify the smallest sample size for fitting nonlinear models.
result Predicts specific subsets of targets that can be fitted at overparameterization.

LLMs overestimate stock returns and are less accurate at predicting extreme outcomes.

problem Behavioral biases in LLMs' stock return forecasts.
method Comparison of LLM forecasts with crowd-sourced estimates and historical data.
result LLMs overestimate stock returns and are less accurate at predicting extreme outcomes.

New causal models perform poorly when evaluated on biased training sets.

problem Sample selection bias affects the evaluation of causal models' prediction performance.
method Re-evaluated prediction performance of causal models on a genetic perturbation data set, proposing a less-biased evaluation set.
result Causal models have similar or worse performance when evaluated on a less-biased set compared to standard association-based estimators.

Proposes Optimistic Pessimistically Initialised Q-Learning (OPIQ) for better exploration in RL.

problem Pessimistic initialisation of Q-values in deep RL leads to poor exploration performance.
method Augments pessimistically initialised Q-values with count-based bonuses to ensure optimism.
result OPIQ outperforms non-optimistic DQN variants in hard exploration tasks.

New methods reduce bias in estimating optimality gaps for risk-averse stochastic programs.

problem Optimality gap estimation bias in risk-averse stochastic programs.
method Two independent samples, each estimating a different component of the optimality gap.
result Our method reduces bias in estimating optimality gaps for risk-averse problems.

We discuss the relative merits of optimistic and randomized approaches to exploration in reinforcement learning. Optimistic approaches presented in the literature apply an optimistic boost to the value estimate at each state-action pair and select actions that are greedy with respect to the resulting optimistic value f…

2017-06-13abs ↗pdf ↗

We show how to take any two parameter-free online learning algorithms with different regret guarantees and obtain a single algorithm whose regret is the minimum of the two base algorithms. Our method is embarrassingly simple: just add the iterates. This trick can generate efficient algorithms that adapt to many norms s…

2019-02-24abs ↗pdf ↗

Optimistic RL algorithms are simplified for deep RL with competitive performance.

problem Achieving accurate optimism in model-based RL for large-scale problems.
method Interpreting scalable optimistic model-based algorithms as solving a tractable noise augmented MDP.
result Competitive regret bound of ildeO(SHAT) ilde{\mathcal{O}}( |\mathcal{S}|H\sqrt{|\mathcal{A}| T } ) for Gaussian noise augmentation.

Unified framework for model-based RL with sample complexity guarantees.

problem Designing efficient posterior sampling methods for model-based RL.
method Optimistic posterior sampling, Hellinger distance reduction, data likelihood measurement.
result Unified algorithms with state-of-the-art sample complexity guarantees.

Paper measures cognitive bias in positive feedback trading using diffusion process estimates.

problem Measuring cognitive bias in positive feedback trading behavior.
method Conditional estimates of diffusion processes to quantify bias, proving asymptotic properties.
result Bias in positive feedback trading converges to zero over time, leading to adaptive expectations.

New algorithm achieves data-dependent regret bounds in MDPs with unknown transitions.

problem Achieving best-of-both-worlds guarantees with data-dependent regret bounds in MDPs with unknown transitions.
method Optimistic follow-the-regularized-leader algorithm with new optimistic Q-function estimators and transition bonus.
result First-order, second-order, and path-length bounds with polylog(T) regret in the stochastic regime.

Improved model-free reinforcement learning with decision-estimation coefficient.

problem Interactive decision making, including structured bandits and reinforcement learning.
method Combining Estimation-to-Decisions with optimistic estimation to achieve better regret bounds.
result Regret bounds for model-free reinforcement learning with value function approximation.

Paper compares Bayesian and de-biased estimators for low-rank matrix completion.

problem Predict missing entries in partially observed matrices.
method Bayesian and de-biased estimators comparison.
result De-biased estimator performs similarly to Bayesian estimators but is more stable and can outperform in small samples.

Optimistic search speeds up change point detection in large datasets.

problem Efficiently detecting change points in large-scale data with high computational demands.
method Adaptive logarithmic queries to reduce evaluation complexity.
result Asymptotic minimax optimality and fast localization rates for change point detection.

Optimistic actor-critic tackles linear MDPs with parametric policies.

problem Theoretical limitations of existing actor-critic methods for linear MDPs.
method Proposes an optimistic actor-critic framework with parametric log-linear policies and approximate Thompson sampling.
result Achieves state-of-the-art sample complexity in both on-policy and off-policy settings.

Computer science scans LLMs to understand and manipulate their economic forecasts.

problem Understanding and controlling the reasoning of large language models in economics.
method Brain scanning techniques applied to LLMs to identify and manipulate underlying concepts.
result LLMs can be steered to generate forecasts with specific biases, allowing for correction or simulation.

New approach for online learning with adaptive adversaries, simpler and more effective.

problem Online learning with adaptive adversaries, especially in bandits and MDPs.
method Uses standard unbiased estimators and a simple increasing learning rate schedule, aided by logarithmically homogeneous self-concordant barriers and strengthened Freedman's inequality.
result First high-probability regret bounds for adversarial bandits and MDPs, resolving open problems.

New algorithm reduces regret in sequential decision-making problems.

problem Balancing exploration and exploitation in online sequential decision problems.
method Variational Bayesian optimistic sampling (VBOS) for optimizing policies.
result VBOS achieves ildeO(AT) ilde O(\sqrt{AT}) Bayesian regret for stochastic multi-armed bandits.

Optimistic NPG improves policy optimization in online RL with efficient sample complexity.

problem Limited theoretical understanding of policy optimization, especially in online RL.
method Combines natural policy gradient with optimistic policy evaluation.
result Achieves optimal dimension dependence sample complexity for learning near-optimal policies.

New oracles improve stochastic optimization with noisy or biased measurements.

problem Optimizing functions with noisy or biased measurements.
method Introduced biased gradient oracles for stochastic optimization, analyzed RSG and SGD algorithms with these oracles.
result Derived non-asymptotic bounds for convergence rates of algorithms with biased gradient oracles.

Efficiently solves exploration-exploitation in LQR using Lagrangian relaxation.

problem Exploration-exploitation dilemma in linear quadratic regulator (LQR) setting.
method Relax optimistic optimization into a constrained extended LQR problem, then solve using Riccati equations.
result Computes εε-optimistic controller efficiently with O(log(1/ε))O\big(\log(1/ε)\big) Riccati equations.

New algorithm reduces high-probability regret for time-varying feedback graphs.

problem High-probability regret bounds for adversarial bandits with time-varying feedback graphs.
method Online mirror descent framework with innovative techniques for pessimistic loss estimators.
result Achieves optimal high-probability regret bound for general and weakly observable graphs.

Proposes H-UCRL for efficient model-based RL with sublinear regret.

problem Greedy policy exploration in model-based RL ignores epistemic uncertainty.
method Reparameterizes plausible models, hallucinates control, augments input space, solves with greedy planners.
result H-UCRL achieves provably sublinear regret for Gaussian Process models.

The Whittle likelihood is a widely used and computationally efficient pseudo-likelihood. However, it is known to produce biased parameter estimates for large classes of models. We propose a method for de-biasing Whittle estimates for second-order stationary stochastic processes. The de-biased Whittle likelihood can be …

2016-05-22abs ↗pdf ↗

Optimistic Hedge achieves optimal regret bounds in two-player zero-sum games.

problem Achieving optimal regret bounds for optimistic Hedge in two-player zero-sum games.
method Refined regret analysis and optimization problem formulation.
result Optimistic Hedge achieves O(logmlogn)O(\sqrt{\log m \log n}) regret bounds, matching upper and lower bounds.

Optimistic method adapted for faster convex-concave min-max problems.

problem Solving convex-concave min-max optimization problems efficiently.
method Adaptive, line search-free second-order methods combining optimistic updates and second-order information.
result Achieves optimal convergence rate without line search or backtracking.

Optimizes budgeted evaluations of LLMs by allocating queries to judges efficiently.

problem Evaluating LLMs with heterogeneous judges and varying costs and reliability.
method Formalizes and analyzes budgeted heteroskedastic multi-judge estimation, proposing EST-IVWE for practical implementation.
result EST-IVWE matches the oracle IVWE rate up to lower-order terms in the budget and is instance-optimal.