Framework learns linear programs from optimal decisions.
problem Learning linear programs from optimal decisions is challenging.
method Gradient-based framework for learning linear programs from optimal decisions.
result Successfully learns linear programs and multi-commodity flow instances.
Proposes a new method for decision-aware learning in optimization.
problem Contextual linear optimization with cost prediction errors.
method Reweighing prediction error by decision regret for decision-aware predictor.
result Improves over predict-then-optimize framework for misspecified models.
New techniques optimize decision trees for interpretable machine learning.
problem Optimizing decision trees for interpretable machine learning.
method General framework for decision tree optimization addressing imbalanced data and continuous variables.
result Proves optimal decision trees for various objectives.
RISE learns decisions with sensitive variables, improving worst-case outcomes.
problem Uncertainty and bias in decisions due to delayed sensitive variable data.
method Incorporates sensitive variables offline but not at deployment, using quantile or infimum optimization.
result Improves worst-case outcomes for individuals affected by unavailable sensitive variables.
Meta-learning interpretable decision trees with synthetic data.
problem Lack of efficient, scalable methods for generating synthetic data for decision tree meta-learning.
method Synthetic generation of near-optimal decision trees using the MetaTree transformer architecture.
result Meta-learning of decision trees achieves performance comparable to real-world data or optimal decision trees, with significant computational cost reduction.
Study optimality in safety-constrained Markov decision processes using asynchronous value iteration and modified Q-learning.
problem Optimality in safety-constrained Markov decision processes with multichain structure.
method Formulated as a zero-sum game, constructed asynchronous value iteration scheme and modified Q-learning algorithm.
result Resolved Bellman's principle of optimality for multichain Markov decision processes and provided learning algorithms.
The topic of learning to solve optimization problems has received interest from both the operations research and machine learning communities. In this work, we combine techniques from both fields to address the problem of learning to generate decisions to instances of continuous optimization problems where the feasible…
New complexity measure for interactive learning reduces regret to near-optimal levels.
problem Challenges in sample-efficient, adaptive learning algorithms for interactive decision making.
method Introduces the Decision-Estimation Coefficient and the Estimation-to-Decisions (E2D) principle.
result Unified algorithm design principle E2D achieves optimal sample-efficient learning.
Paper integrates LLMs into portfolio optimization to improve decision quality.
problem Suboptimal portfolio decisions due to mismatch between prediction and decision quality.
method Integrates LLMs with decision-focused learning, using attention mechanism to process asset relationships and macro variables.
result Model consistently outperforms state-of-the-art deep learning models in portfolio optimization.
Creating impact in real-world settings requires artificial intelligence techniques to span the full pipeline from data, to predictive models, to decisions. These components are typically approached separately: a machine learning model is first trained via a measure of predictive accuracy, and then its predictions are u…
New learning process for neural classifiers simplifies decision weights.
problem Training decision layer weights in neural classifiers.
method Choosing appropriate loss functions and solving constrained optimization problems.
result A new learning process for pre-decision weights that is simple and effective.
A model for human-machine decision-making with private info and opacity.
problem Optimizing decisions in a human-machine system with private info and opacity.
method Formulated as a two-player learning problem, proved lower and upper bounds on optimality.
result Simple coordination strategy is nearly minimax optimal, efficient learning possible under certain assumptions.
Paper uses DFL to optimize portfolio risk and outperforms conventional methods.
problem Optimizing portfolio risk and return under uncertainty.
method Decision-focused learning (DFL) to derive global minimum variance portfolio (GMVP).
result DFL-based methods consistently deliver superior decision performance in portfolio optimization.
New active learning strategy improves decision-making accuracy.
problem Maximizing decision-making accuracy in sequential data acquisition.
method Introduces a novel active learning criterion that maximizes expected information gain on the posterior decision distribution.
result Improved performance in decision-making accuracy compared to existing alternatives.
Bayesian framework for learning optimal action-value function in MDPs.
problem Uncertainty quantification in MDPs for optimal decision-making strategies.
method Full Bayesian framework including modelling, inference, and decision-making.
result Demonstrates exploration benefits of posterior sampling in MDPs.
Paper extends transfer learning for decision rules, improving treatment rule estimation.
problem Estimating optimal individualized treatment rules under changing conditions.
method Bayes decision rules and low-dimensional empirical risk minimization.
result Consistent estimators and risk bounds established under mild conditions.
Paper presents an algorithm for optimal regret in communicating Markov decision processes.
problem Achieving optimal regret in Markov decision processes with a communicating assumption.
method The algorithm explicitly tracks the constant K(M) to learn optimally, balancing exploration, co-exploration, and exploitation.
result The algorithm achieves asymptotically optimal regret K(M)log(T)+o(log(T)) for communicating Markov decision processes. Efficient Bayesian decision-making with intractable likelihoods.
problem Bayesian decision-making under intractable likelihoods.
method Learning surrogate models and using simulation-based inference and Bayesian optimization.
result Optimal actions can be learned with fewer simulations than posterior inference.
Post-processing predictors reduces calibration errors for decision-making.
problem Predictors with low calibration error for machine learning may have high error for decision-making.
method Post-processing with ε distance to calibration adds noise to make predictions differentially private.
result Post-processing achieves O(√ε) ECE and CDL, asymptotically optimal.
ODTLearn learns optimal decision trees for predictive and prescriptive tasks.
problem Learning optimal decision trees for high-stakes predictive and prescriptive tasks.
method Mixed-integer optimization framework and object-oriented design.
result Implementation of optimal decision trees for various tasks.
Paper tackles optimal policy learning with observational data in multi-action scenarios.
problem Optimal policy learning in multi-action settings with observational data.
method Review of estimation approaches, analysis of risk preference, discussion of potential failures.
result Average regret of a policy with multi-valued treatment is contingent on the decision-maker's attitude towards risk.
Differentiable perturbed optimizers enable end-to-end learning of discrete decisions.
problem Discrete decisions in machine learning pipelines break back-propagation.
method Transform optimizers into differentiable operations using stochastically perturbed optimizers.
result Smoothness of derivatives can be tuned via noise amplitude.
Decision trees improve decision-making by optimizing predictions of unknown parameters.
problem Optimizing decisions based on predicted unknown parameters.
method SPO Trees (SPOTs) for training decision trees under the SPO loss function.
result SPOTs provide higher quality decisions and significantly lower model complexity compared to other machine learning approaches.
A new approach integrates inventory prediction and routing optimization for better supply chain management.
problem Optimizing efficient route selection in supply chain management with uncertain inventory demand.
method Decision-focused learning approach using neural networks to directly integrate inventory prediction and routing optimization.
result Direct integration of inventory prediction and routing optimization leads to better supply chain decisions.
A scalable method for training prediction models in predict-then-optimize
problem Training prediction models in the predict-then-optimize paradigm
method Decision-focused learning pipeline
result Decision quality competitive with state-of-the-art methods while reducing training time
There are over 15 distinct communities that work in the general area of sequential decisions and information, often referred to as decisions under uncertainty or stochastic optimization. We focus on two of the most important fields: stochastic optimal control, with its roots in deterministic optimal control, and reinfo…
Optimizes mobile notifications for multiple objectives using reinforcement learning.
problem Optimizing mobile notification systems for multiple objectives.
method End-to-end offline reinforcement learning with Double Deep Q-network and Conservative Q-learning.
result Demonstrates improved performance and benefits of the proposed approach.
SRO optimizes decisions against worst-case sampler induced by generative models.
problem Operational uncertainty shifts from explicit probability law to sampler induced by learned generators.
method SRO optimizes decisions against the worst-case sampler induced by perturbing the learned generator.
result Empirical worst-case objective provides high-probability upper certificate for true population objective.
Optimal decision trees learned via dynamic programming and search.
problem Finding the best classification trees that are both accurate and compact.
method Dynamic programming and search techniques.
result Our algorithm learns optimal classification trees significantly faster and scales better than existing methods.
A new method for decision-focused learning using diffusion models.
problem Inability of deterministic point predictions to capture stochasticity in real-world environments.
method Proposes a diffusion-based DFL approach that trains a diffusion model to represent uncertain parameters and optimizes decisions through stochastic optimization.
result Empirically shows consistent outperformance over strong baselines in decision quality.
End-to-end pipeline for data-driven decision making in mixed-integer optimization.
problem Data-driven decision making in mixed-integer optimization with uncertainty.
method Exploiting mixed-integer optimization-representability of machine learning methods, characterizing decision trust regions, and ensembling multiple models.
result Framework generates high-quality prescriptions and controls model robustness.
Paper introduces novel model selection for CRO to balance robustness and decision risk.
problem Balancing robustness and decision risk in CRO.
method Conformalized Robust Optimization with Model Selection (CROMS) framework.
result Significant improvements in decision efficiency across various applications.
New online algorithms tackle dynamic decision-focused learning.
problem Dynamic decision-focused learning in evolving environments.
method Regularization and perturbation techniques for non-convex optimization.
result First provable guarantees for online decision-focused learning.
PeL separates sensory interface optimization from decision learning.
problem Optimizing sensory interfaces without task-specific information.
method Formal separation of perception and decision learning, using metrics for stability, informativeness, and geometry.
result Updates preserving invariants are orthogonal to decision gradients.
Algorithm learns decision trees from noisy data.
problem Learning stochastic decision trees from corrupted samples.
method Quasipolynomial-time algorithm for adversarial noise.
result Returns a hypothesis with error within 2η+ε of optimal. The paper provides a method to minimize regret in estimate-then-optimize decision-making.
problem Errors in estimation lead to sub-optimal decisions in data-driven decision-making.
method A novel bound on regret for smooth and unconstrained optimization problems, followed by experimental design to minimize this regret.
result A general procedure for experimental design to minimize regret resulting from estimate-then-optimize.
This study explains and mitigates inflated returns and turnover in SPO-based portfolio optimization.
problem Inflated returns and excessive turnover in SPO-based portfolio optimization.
method KKT-based interpretation of portfolio decisions as ranking over adjusted scores, empirical evaluation of stabilization mechanisms.
result Realistic output constraints and portfolio-level turnover control improve SPO-based strategies.
Deep learning complements OR/MS for decision-making under uncertainty.
problem Sequential decision-making in uncertain environments.
method Integration of deep learning and OR/MS frameworks.
result Deep learning enhances adaptability and scalability in decision systems.
Study on information evolution in interactive decision making using multi-armed bandits.
problem Understanding information dynamics in interactive decision making.
method Stochastic multi-armed bandit problem, focusing on optimal arm with a fixed margin.
result Distinct growth phases in mutual information, showing decoupling between success probability and information gain.
OTSS learns personalized decision weights from logged decisions and outputs.
problem Learning context-specific decision weights from logged decisions and outputs.
method Output-targeted soft-segmentation model that deploys personalized decision-ready weight vectors.
result OTSS achieves the lowest mean regret in benchmark settings.
This paper optimizes slate decision systems for large action spaces.
problem Optimizing large-scale decision systems with arbitrary reward functions.
method A policy optimization framework with a novel relaxation of decision functions.
result Demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed method on large action spaces.
Information-theoretic bounded rationality describes utility-optimizing decision-makers whose limited information-processing capabilities are formalized by information constraints. One of the consequences of bounded rationality is that resource-limited decision-makers can join together to solve decision-making problems …
A novel gradient-based method optimizes decision trees for complex tasks.
problem Training decision trees with arbitrary differentiable loss functions.
method Gradient-based optimization using first and second derivatives of loss functions.
result Improves accuracy and flexibility in decision tree optimization.
This study investigates how Decision-Focused Learning improves stock return predictions for better portfolio optimization.
problem The challenge of precise expected returns estimation in mean-variance optimization.
method Investigates Decision-Focused Learning (DFL) to adjust stock return prediction models for MVO.
result DFL tilts prediction errors by the inverse covariance matrix, leading to systematic prediction biases in portfolio optimization.
Many decision problems in science, engineering and economics are affected by uncertain parameters whose distribution is only indirectly observable through samples. The goal of data-driven decision-making is to learn a decision from finitely many training samples that will perform well on unseen test samples. This learn…
Decision tree algorithms have been among the most popular algorithms for interpretable (transparent) machine learning since the early 1980's. The problem that has plagued decision tree algorithms since their inception is their lack of optimality, or lack of guarantees of closeness to optimality: decision tree algorithm…
A new method learns interpretable decision rules using submodular optimization.
problem Learning interpretable decision rules from data.
method Submodular optimization approach for selecting rules from a large set.
result The method effectively learns interpretable rule sets from real datasets.
Optimizes football play calls using reinforcement learning.
problem Maximizing game outcomes with limited data.
method Reinforcement learning to optimize decision-making.
result Optimized play calls lead to better game outcomes.