Proposes VSGD optimizer combining probabilistic and gradient-based methods.
problem Uncertainty modeling in deep neural networks.
method Combines probabilistic and gradient-based approaches using SVI.
result VSGD outperforms Adam and SGD on image classification tasks.
Gradient-free optimizers are ineffective on barren plateaus in quantum computing.
problem Effect of barren plateaus on gradient-free optimization in quantum computing.
method Numerical simulations and theoretical analysis of gradient-free optimization algorithms.
result Gradient-free optimizers are not effective in barren plateau landscapes due to exponentially suppressed cost function differences.
New algorithms ensure reproducibility and optimal convergence in convex optimization.
problem Trade-off between reproducibility and convergence rate in convex optimization.
method Regularization-based algorithms for smooth convex minimization and minimax optimization.
result Achieves optimal reproducibility and near-optimal gradient complexity for various oracle settings.
Optimizes CNNs by directing gradients along output channels.
problem Improving generalization error in CNNs.
method Output-channel directed re-weighted L2 or Sobolev metrics.
result Improves generalization error by optimizing gradients.
This work proposes a new method for variational inference using Wasserstein gradient descent.
problem Optimizing variational parameters to match a true posterior distribution.
method Reinterpreting VI as an optimization problem over a variational parameter space, using Wasserstein gradient descent.
result The proposed Wasserstein gradient descent can be seen as a generalization of existing optimization techniques in VI.
A new method for optimizing functions without gradients, improving efficiency and convergence.
problem Optimizing functions without gradient information in machine learning.
method Hybrid Gradient Descent (HGE) using random and coordinate-wise gradient estimates.
result The proposed method achieves optimal convergence rates in convex cases and generalizes to non-convex cases.
Adaptive methods improve gradient descent and proximal gradient for convex optimization.
problem Improving efficiency of gradient descent and proximal gradient methods.
method Adaptive versions of GD and ProxGD using local curvature information.
result Proved convergence with local Lipschitz gradient assumptions.
New optimizer Eve uses examplewise gradients for better second-moment estimates.
problem Improving optimization methods for machine learning.
method Adaptive optimization with examplewise gradients.
result Eve optimizer slightly outperforms Adam on small scale benchmarks.
Optimizes shapes of curves using Möbius energy gradients.
problem Finding optimal shapes of curves within isotopy classes.
method Gradient-based optimization with Sobolev inner products.
result Significantly more efficient and robust optimization methods.
Optimizes reinsurance and investment strategies to minimize ruin probability.
problem Optimizing reinsurance and investment strategies to minimize ruin probability.
method Stochastic projected gradient method based on Malliavin calculus.
result Effectiveness of the proposed method demonstrated through numerical experiments.
The paper interprets policy-gradient algorithms using continuation theory.
problem Optimizing nonconvex functions in reinforcement learning.
method Formulates policy optimization as optimization by continuation, interprets policy-gradient algorithms as implicitly optimizing deterministic policies.
result Exploration in policy-gradient algorithms is seen as computing a continuation of the return of the policy.
Improves bandit convex optimization with gradient variations.
problem Bandit Convex Optimization with Gradient Variations.
method Refined analysis of non-consecutive gradient variation.
result Improved dimension dependence for convex and strongly convex functions.
Improved complexity for machine learning optimization methods.
problem Optimizing over-parametrized models in machine learning.
method Stochastic conditional gradient methods with interpolation-like conditions.
result Improved oracle complexities for finding optimal solutions.
New findings on optimal transport gradient for generative models, addressing numerical instabilities.
problem Numerical instabilities in training Wasserstein Generative Adversarial Networks (WGAN).
method Valid differentiation theorem for entropic regularized transport, semi-discrete gradient formulation, and optimization algorithm.
result Existence of optimal transport gradient for generative models under specified conditions.
AngularGrad optimizes CNNs by considering gradient direction, improving convergence.
problem Dying gradient problem and inefficiency in exploiting gradient curvature.
method AngularGrad considers gradient direction/angle, generating a score for step size control.
result AngularGrad outperforms state-of-the-art optimizers in benchmark tests.
Optimal defenses protect FL models from gradient reconstruction attacks.
problem Gradient reconstruction attacks compromise FL models by recovering original data from shared gradients.
method Derive a theoretical lower bound of reconstruction error, customize noise and pruning defenses, and achieve optimal trade-off between leakage and utility.
result Our methods outperform Gradient Noise and Pruning in protecting training data and maintaining model utility.
Optimal neural network approximation for Wasserstein gradient direction via convex optimization.
problem Approximating Wasserstein gradient direction with limited data.
method Two-layer networks with squared-ReLU activations, SDP relaxation.
result Optimal approximation of Wasserstein gradient direction in two-layer networks.
Novel BSG method for efficient stochastic optimization.
problem Efficient optimization of non-convex surfaces in stochastic settings.
method Binary search combined with first order gradient optimization.
result BSG produces more promising results and better generalization than other methods.
New DP optimization methods for sparse gradients, improving on existing algorithms.
problem Differentially private optimization with sparse gradients in high-dimensional settings.
method Improved bounds for mean estimation, pure- and approximate-DP algorithms for stochastic convex optimization.
result First nearly dimension-independent rates for DP optimization with sparse gradients.
Optimizes shortfall risk using gradient-based methods.
problem Optimizing utility-based shortfall risk measures.
method Gradient-based stochastic optimization, non-asymptotic bounds derivation.
result Non-asymptotic convergence rate for optimizing UBSR.
Proposes CoPO, a new policy optimization method for competitive games.
problem Designing efficient optimization methods for competitive Markov decision processes.
method Competitive policy optimization (CoPO) approach that exploits game-theoretic nature of competitive games.
result Stable optimization, convergence to sophisticated strategies, and higher scores compared to baseline methods.
COMP-AMS optimizes distributed training with compressed gradients, achieving similar accuracy with less communication.
problem Efficiently training large-scale models in distributed environments with reduced communication costs.
method Distributed optimization framework using gradient averaging and adaptive AMSGrad, with gradient compression and error feedback.
result COMP-AMS achieves the same convergence rate and linear speedup as standard AMSGrad with less communication.
This paper reviews zeroth-order optimization in signal processing and machine learning.
problem Optimization problems without gradient information.
method Iterative steps: gradient estimation, descent direction computation, solution update.
result Demonstrates applications in robustness evaluation and black-box model explanations.
New algorithms reduce regret in online convex optimization with heavy-tailed gradients.
problem Challenges in online convex optimization with heavy-tailed gradients.
method Examined and analyzed old algorithms for online convex optimization in the heavy-tailed setting.
result Established new regret bounds for classical methods without algorithmic modification.
AdaGrad-Norm achieves optimal convergence rates for non-convex objectives without tuning.
problem Optimal convergence rates for non-convex, smooth objectives with adaptive step sizes.
method Adaptive SGD (AdaGrad-Norm) with self-tuning step sizes, analyzing under unbounded gradients and affine variance scaling.
result AdaGrad-Norm achieves order optimal convergence rate of $\mathcal{O}\left(\frac{\mathrm{poly}\log(T)}{\sqrt{T}}
ight)$ under optimal assumptions.
dboost optimizes prediction models for convex cone problems.
problem Optimizing prediction models for decision-making.
method Gradient boosting with implicit differentiation for convex quadratic cone programming.
result dboost reduces out-of-sample decision regret.
Stochastic gradient methods can converge in expectation under heavy-tailed noise.
problem Convergence of stochastic gradient methods under heavy-tailed noise.
method Comprehensive study of stochastic optimization under heavy-tailed noise for extsfSGD, extsfSMD, extsfASMD, extsfSGDM in convex and nonconvex optimization. result Established in-expectation convergence results for various stochastic gradient methods.
This paper studies Bayesian ranking and selection (R&S) problems with correlated prior beliefs and continuous domains, i.e. Bayesian optimization (BO). Knowledge gradient methods [Frazier et al., 2008, 2009] have been widely studied for discrete R&S problems, which sample the one-step Bayes-optimal point. When used ove…
A new gradient flow framework for distributionally robust optimization.
problem Optimizing under uncertainty with worst-case distributional constraints.
method Gradient flow theory applied to distributionally robust optimization.
result Practical algorithms for sampling from worst-case distributions.
This paper optimizes functions of probability measures using particle gradient descent for displacement convex functions.
problem Optimizing functions of probability measures with displacement convex properties.
method Particle gradient descent applied to displacement convex functions with theoretical guarantees.
result Finite number of particles and computations are sufficient to find optimal solutions for displacement convex functions.
Gradient-free optimization for additive models achieves optimal error.
problem Optimizing noisy functions with zero-order information.
method Proposed a randomized gradient estimator for gradient-free optimization.
result Achieves minimax optimal error of order dT−(β−1)/β. Stochastic gradient descent (\textsc{Sgd}) methods are the most powerful optimization tools in training machine learning and deep learning models. Moreover, acceleration (a.k.a. momentum) methods and diagonal scaling (a.k.a. adaptive gradient) methods are the two main techniques to improve the slow convergence of \text…
Softmax policy gradient achieves global optimality in wide neural networks with entropy regularization.
problem Optimizing softmax policies with neural networks in the mean-field regime.
method Modeling neural networks as Wasserstein gradient flows and proving global optimality of fixed points.
result Global optimality of softmax policy gradient in wide single hidden layer neural networks with entropy regularization.
AdaSwarm optimizes deep learning models with swarm intelligence, outperforming Adam.
problem Optimization challenges in deep learning models.
method AdaSwarm uses EMPSO to approximate gradients for optimization.
result AdaSwarm outperforms Adam and handles various loss functions.
Characterizes corridors in loss surfaces for gradient-based optimization.
problem Understanding and mitigating training instabilities in gradient-based optimization.
method Characterizes corridors as regions where gradient descent and gradient flow trajectories are linearly related.
result Corridors indicate regions without implicit regularization effects, leading to better learning rate adaptation schemes.
Frank-Wolfe optimization applied to a small deep network shows slower convergence compared to gradient descent.
problem Training deep neural networks is challenging due to many parameters and optimization difficulties.
method Frank-Wolfe optimization method applied to a deep network.
result Frank-Wolfe optimization converges slowly and is unstable in a stochastic setting.
A new hybrid algorithm reduces stochastic gradient evaluations for nonconvex optimization.
problem Solving stochastic composite nonconvex optimization problems efficiently.
method Proposes a new hybrid variance-reduced proximal gradient method with a stochastic gradient estimator.
result Achieves optimal stochastic oracle complexity bound with one less gradient evaluation.
Generalizes smoothness conditions for optimization methods.
problem Optimization under non-uniform smoothness conditions.
method Develops a new analysis technique for bounding gradients.
result Obtains convergence rates for gradient descent and Nesterov's method.
SLEDGE algorithm reduces gradient computation errors in optimization.
problem Accumulated errors in gradient estimation methods for large-scale optimization.
method Single-loop method for finite-sum nonconvex optimization without periodic gradient refresh.
result Achieves nearly optimal gradient complexity and second-order optimality.
NCG methods improve shape optimization efficiency.
problem Shape optimization problems
method Nonlinear conjugate gradient methods
result NCG methods are efficient for shape optimization
Scout-Nd optimizes parameters of stochastic simulators efficiently.
problem Optimizing parameters of stochastic, computationally expensive simulators.
method Scout-Nd algorithm, reducing gradient noise, multi-fidelity schemes.
result Demonstrates better performance compared to existing methods.
New adaptive step-size method for convex optimization without tuning.
problem Optimizing convex functions efficiently with stochastic gradients.
method Adapted Adaptive Gradient Descent Without Descent to stochastic setting.
result Stochastic gradient descent converges under various assumptions.
A number of optimization approaches have been proposed for optimizing nonconvex objectives (e.g. deep learning models), such as batch gradient descent, stochastic gradient descent and stochastic variance reduced gradient descent. Theory shows these optimization methods can converge by using an unbiased gradient estimat…
Optimizes graph neural networks using natural gradient descent.
problem Improving efficiency and performance of graph neural networks.
method Employing natural gradient descent to optimize graph neural networks.
result Natural gradient optimization leads to superior performance compared to existing methods.
Improved convergence for nonconvex optimization with dependent data.
problem Constrained smooth nonconvex optimization with dependent data.
method Stochastic projected gradient methods under a general dependent data sampling scheme.
result Achieved worst-case rate of convergence ildeO(t−1/4) and complexity ildeO(ε−4). We introduce a simple algorithm, True Asymptotic Natural Gradient Optimization (TANGO), that converges to a true natural gradient descent in the limit of small learning rates, without explicit Fisher matrix estimation. For quadratic models the algorithm is also an instance of averaged stochastic gradient, where the par…
DoWG optimizer automatically adapts to convex and nonsmooth problems without tuning.
problem Optimizing machine learning models efficiently and adaptively.
method DoWG uses a distance-based weighted version of gradient averaging for optimization.
result DoWG achieves convergence rates similar to optimally tuned gradient descent.
Gradient-based framework for optimizing text prompts in diffusion models.
problem Efficiently optimizing prompts in text-to-image diffusion models with large domain space and non-differentiable embeddings.
method Formulated as discrete optimization over language space, designed compact subspaces, and introduced shortcut text gradient.
result Empirically discovered prompts that enhance or destroy image faithfulness.