We consider differentiable games where the goal is to find a Nash equilibrium. The machine learning community has recently started using variants of the gradient method (GD). Prime examples are extragradient (EG), the optimistic gradient method (OG) and consensus optimization (CO), which enjoy linear convergence in cas…
Unified analysis of first-order methods for smooth games using IQCs.
problem Certify convergence rates of first-order methods for smooth and strongly-monotone games.
method Adapted integral quadratic constraints (IQCs) to study first-order methods and derive tight upper bounds of convergence rates.
result First global convergence rate for the negative momentum method with O(κ1.5) iteration complexity. New method accelerates smooth games using spectral shape analysis.
problem Accelerating optimization in smooth games with complex numerical challenges.
method Matrix iteration theory and spectral shape analysis to characterize and manipulate acceleration.
result Identified a continuum of optimization strategies from convex minimization to gradient descent.
Last-iterate guarantees for learning in co-coercive games under noisy feedback.
problem Learning in co-coercive games with noisy feedback.
method Vanilla stochastic gradient descent with a new noise model.
result Last-iterate bound of order O(log(t)/t1/3) for co-coercive games. Paper analyzes convergence rates for multi-agent learning in games.
problem Convergence rates for multi-agent learning in games.
method Characterizes finite-time convergence rates for joint OGD learning on λ-cocoercive games and develops adaptive algorithms. result Adaptive algorithms achieve same convergence rates as non-adaptive counterparts.
Extends tracking guarantees for time-varying variational inequalities.
problem Tracking solutions of time-varying variational inequalities.
method Extends existing results to sublinear solution paths and periodic problems.
result Discrete dynamical systems of periodic time-varying VI can exhibit chaotic behavior or converge to the solution.
In this paper, we consider first-order convergence theory and algorithms for solving a class of non-convex non-concave min-max saddle-point problems, whose objective function is weakly convex in the variables of minimization and weakly concave in the variables of maximization. It has many important applications in mach…
It is common to encounter large-scale monotone inclusion problems where the objective has a finite sum structure. We develop a general framework for variance-reduced forward-backward splitting algorithms for this problem. This framework includes a number of existing deterministic and variance-reduced algorithms for fun…
Improved analysis of extragradient methods for structured VIPs.
problem Efficiently solving large-scale VIPs with weaker conditions.
method Single-call stochastic extragradient methods with expected residual condition.
result Convergence guarantees for quasi-strongly monotone and weak Minty VIPs.
Single-timescale analysis improves convergence in multi-sequence stochastic approximation.
problem Finite-time convergence of nonlinear stochastic approximation with multiple coupled sequences.
method Smoothness property of fixed points and analysis of fine-grained single-timescale SA.
result Improved iteration complexity for achieving ε-accuracy in multi-sequence single-timescale SA.
New bounds for SA with arbitrary norm contractions and Markovian noise.
problem Finite-time analysis of two-time-scale stochastic approximation with arbitrary norm contractions and Markovian noise.
method Use of generalized Moreau envelope for arbitrary norm contractions and solutions of Poisson equation for Markovian noise.
result Mean square error decays at rates of O(1/n2/3) and O(1/n) under different conditions. Survey of methods for solving smooth stochastic variational inequalities.
problem Solving smooth (strongly) monotone stochastic variational inequalities.
method Deterministic foundation, general stochastic formulation, finite sum setup, recent advances.
result Review of various methods for solving smooth stochastic variational inequalities.
Paper presents content-based models for game recommendation in cold start scenarios.
problem Cold start problem in game recommendation where new games and players have no historical data.
method Uses survey data to develop content-based interaction models that generalize to new games, players, and both.
result Content models outperform collaborative filtering in predicting new interactions.
Study on SA with heavy-tailed and LRD noise, establishing finite-time bounds.
problem Analyzing stochastic approximation under heavy-tailed and LRD noise.
method Noise-averaging argument to regularize impact of non-classical noise.
result Established first finite-time moment bounds for SA under heavy-tailed and LRD noise.
In this work, we ask the following question: Can visual analogies, learned in an unsupervised way, be used in order to transfer knowledge between pairs of games and even play one game using an agent trained for another game? We attempt to answer this research question by creating visual analogies between a pair of game…
Potential games, originally introduced in the early 1990's by Lloyd Shapley, the 2012 Nobel Laureate in Economics, and his colleague Dov Monderer, are a very important class of models in game theory. They have special properties such as the existence of Nash equilibria in pure strategies. This note introduces graphical…
IGGP learns game rules from varying quality game play, finding no overall trend.
problem Learn game rules from varying quality game play.
method Used Sancho's intelligent game traces and ILP systems (Metagol, Aleph, ILASP) to induce game rules from traces of varying quality and volume.
result No overall trend in accuracy of learned game rules from varying quality and volume of training data.
New SGDA method speeds up nonconvex minimax optimization.
problem Improving convergence of nonconvex minimax optimization.
method SGDA with random reshuffling for nonconvex-PŁ objectives.
result Convergence rates faster than with-replacement SGDA.
We introduce a topological combinatorial game called the Region Smoothing Swap Game. The game is played on a game board derived from the connected shadow of a link diagram on a (possibly non-orientable) surface by smoothing at crossings. Moves in the game are performed on regions of the diagram and can switch the direc…
We present a new general board game (GBG) playing and learning framework. GBG defines the common interfaces for board games, game states and their AI agents. It allows one to run competitions of different agents on different games. It standardizes those parts of board game playing and learning that otherwise would be t…
Introduces SM-games to analyze machine learning interactions.
problem Lack of understanding and control in n-player games.
method Introduces SM-games with pairwise zero-sum interactions.
result SM-games are amenable to first-order optimization methods.
Just as war is sometimes fallaciously represented as a zero sum game -- when in fact war is a negative sum game - stock market trading, a positive sum game over time, is often erroneously represented as a zero sum game. This is called the "zero sum fallacy" -- the erroneous belief that one trader in a stock market exch…
The existence of stationary Markov perfect equilibria in stochastic games is shown under a general condition called "(decomposable) coarser transition kernels". This result covers various earlier existence results on correlated equilibria, noisy stochastic games, stochastic games with finite actions and state-independe…
Game theory helps analyze ESOs/EBIs in production and service sectors.
problem Economic incentives affect traditional production/service functions and create intangible capital.
method Uses game theory to analyze interactions in ESO/EBI transactions.
result No perfect Nash Equilibria for two-stage games involving many participants.
Combinatorial two-player games have recently been applied to knot theory. Examples of this include the Knotting-Unknotting Game and the Region Unknotting Game, both of which are played on knot shadows. These are turn-based games played by two players, where each player has a separate goal to achieve in order to win the…
We start briefly surveying research on optimal stopping games since their introduction by E.B.Dynkin more than 40 years ago. Recent renewed interest to dynkin's games is due, in particular, to the study of Israeli (game) options introduced in 2000. We discuss the work on these options and related derivative securities …
The paper explores how regularization can lead to convergence in imperfect information games.
problem Finding equilibrium in imperfect information games with imperfect information.
method Investigates Follow the Regularized Leader dynamics and how adding a regularization term can lead to strong convergence guarantees.
result The approach leads to algorithms that converge exactly to the Nash equilibrium in imperfect information games.
Educational game on crypto investment helps students grasp macroeconomics.
problem Weak connections between microeconomic decision-making and macroeconomic concepts in classroom games.
method Design and study of an educational game on cryptocurrency investment.
result Engages students in understanding macroeconomics through incentivized individual investment decisions.
Simplified NFT games discussed with methods for extracting value.
problem Issues influencing NFT games' structure and stability.
method Three methods for extracting value from NFT games.
result Various design constraints and mutual beneficial games.
We introduce TextWorld, a sandbox learning environment for the training and evaluation of RL agents on text-based games. TextWorld is a Python library that handles interactive play-through of text games, as well as backend functions like state tracking and reward assignment. It comes with a curated list of games whose …
Paper tackles hidden game problem in AI alignment and language games.
problem Hidden game problem in AI alignment and language games.
method Developed a composition of regret minimization techniques to discover and exploit hidden structures.
result Achieved optimal external and swap regret bounds for rapid convergence to correlated equilibria.
AEC Games model represents software MARL environments better than POSGs.
problem POSGs are conceptually unsuitable for software MARL environments.
method Introduced AEC Games model as an equivalent to POSGs.
result AEC Games model is more representative of software MARL environments.
Gradient Descent Ascent converges to von-Neumann solution in hidden zero-sum games.
problem Understanding dynamics of zero-sum games with hidden structure.
method Gradient Descent Ascent applied to hidden zero-sum games with specific convex-concave structure.
result Gradient Descent Ascent converges to von-Neumann solution in strictly convex-concave hidden games.
Generalizes region select game to k-colored knot diagrams.
problem Play game on knot diagrams with multiple colors.
method Generalize region select game to k-colored knot diagrams. result Generalization of the region select game to k-colored knot diagrams. We introduce CSE for MLSF games and devise online learning algorithms for achieving no-external Stackelberg-regret.
problem Learning equilibrium in leader-follower games with noisy bandit feedback.
method Proposed Correlated Stackelberg Equilibrium (CSE) and online learning algorithms balancing exploration and exploitation.
result Achieves no-external Stackelberg-regret, converging to approximate CSE.
Deep Reinforcement Learning automates match-3 game testing.
problem Reducing human effort in testing match-3 video games.
method Dueling Deep Q-Network paradigm applied to Jelly Juice game.
result The network outperforms random player and adapts to game difficulty.
Unified framework for Bayesian and Frequentist statistics.
problem Embedding Bayesian statistics within a broader decision-making framework.
method Game theory and statistical analysis.
result Statistical games unify Bayesian and Frequentist statistics.
New game approximates mean curvature flow evolution.
problem Approximating geometric mean curvature flow evolution.
method Two-player zero-sum game with probabilistic elements.
result Value function approximates mean curvature flow.
Study on mean field games with singular controls and their applications.
problem Optimal productivity expansion in dynamic oligopolies.
method Existence and uniqueness of mean field equilibria through nonlinear equations, Abelian limit for discounted and ergodic games.
result Valid connection between discounted and ergodic games, approximation of Nash equilibria.
Gradient methods converge exponentially in concave network games.
problem Finding Nash equilibria in concave network zero-sum games.
method Gradient Ascent and Optimistic Gradient Ascent analyses.
result Exponential convergence rates in various game settings.
Federated learning linked to mean-field games for large-scale learning.
problem Large-scale distributed and privacy-preserving learning algorithms.
method Established a connection between federated learning and mean-field games, presenting federated learning as a differential game.
result Properties of the equilibrium of the federated learning game were discussed.
Expands MFGs to handle real-world asymmetric multi-agent games efficiently.
problem Applying mean-field games to real-world, heterogeneous multi-agent systems.
method Develops a method to symmetrize and extend finite-player games to infinite-player MFGs, proving approximation bounds and convergence guarantees.
result TD learning converges to approximate Nash equilibria in finite-sample settings, enabling symmetrized learning without explicit MFG models.
This paper gives a critical account of the minority game literature. The minority game is a simple congestion game: players need to choose between two options, and those who have selected the option chosen by the minority win. The learning model proposed in this literature seems to differ markedly from the learning mod…
Develops a deep metric learning approach for detecting bugs in video games.
problem Automated detection of bugs in video games.
method State-State Siamese Networks (S3N) for deep metric learning.
result S3N learns meaningful embeddings to identify various types of bugs.
Although recent work in AI has made great progress in solving large, zero-sum, extensive-form games, the underlying assumption in most past work is that the parameters of the game itself are known to the agents. This paper deals with the relatively under-explored but equally important "inverse" setting, where the param…
Neural operators approximate Stackelberg game solutions.
problem Intractability of follower's best-response operator in dynamic Stackelberg games.
method Used attention-based neural operators to approximate the best-response operator.
result Approximate best-response operator yields close game value.
New methods learn correlated equilibria in large games without structural assumptions.
problem Learning correlated equilibria in large, anonymous games with exponential player count.
method Developed Mean-Field correlated and coarse-correlated equilibria, and used classical algorithms to learn them efficiently.
result Efficiently learned correlated equilibria in all games without structural assumptions.
In this paper, we study the problem of learning the set of pure strategy Nash equilibria and the exact structure of a continuous-action graphical game with quadratic payoffs by observing a small set of perturbed equilibria. A continuous-action graphical game can possibly have an uncountable set of Nash euqilibria. We p…