Discounted exponential utility provides a principled criterion for risk-sensitive sequential decision-making, but its nonlinear structure complicates reinforcement learning. A recent work \citep{thoppe2026reinforcement} addressed this difficulty by introducing a Bellman-compatible surrogate and two model-free fixed-point algorithms for optimizing it over stationary policies.
arXiv:2607. 22982v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: Natural Policy Gradient (NPG) is a well-established Reinforcement Learning algorithm that underlies widely used methods such as Trust Region Policy Optimization and Proximal Policy Optimization, both of which have demonstrated strong empirical success.
By Asha Barua, Sajad Khodadadian
arXiv:2606. 04335v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: The framework of robust Markov decision processes (RMDPs) allows the design of reinforcement learning agents that satisfy performance guarantees under worst-case transition dynamics.
By Tanya Veeravalli, David M. Bossens, Atsushi Nitanda
The framework of robust Markov decision processes (RMDPs) allows the design of reinforcement learning agents that satisfy performance guarantees under worst-case transition dynamics. Traditional RMDPs consider discrete-time dynamics and recently, sample-efficient policy gradient algorithms have been considered in this context.
arXiv:2409. 01447v3 Announce Type: replace Abstract: We present a finite-sample analysis of decentralized learning in two-player zero-sum matrix games and stochastic games, with a focus on best-response-based learning algorithms.
By Zaiwei Chen, Kaiqing Zhang, Eric Mazumdar, Asuman Ozdaglar, Adam Wierman
arXiv:2606. 11798v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: In this paper, we develop a continuous-time model-free reinforcement learning algorithm to learn deterministic equilibrium policies in general time-inconsistent control problems.
By Xin Guo, Yijie Huang, Xiang Yu
arXiv:2506. 01052v3 Announce Type: replace Abstract: We investigate the finite-time convergence properties of Temporal Difference (TD) learning with linear function approximation, a cornerstone of reinforcement learning.
By Wei-Cheng Lee, Francesco Orabona
arXiv:2606. 14095v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: We study the sample complexity of learning in average-reward weakly-coupled Markov decision processes (WCMDPs) and Restless Bandits (RBs) under a generative model.
By Tianhao Wu, Matthew Zurek, Weina Wang, Qiaomin Xie
arXiv:2606. 25012v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: Many reinforcement learning (RL) problems in the infinite-horizon average-reward setting require optimizing multiple conflicting objectives while satisfying multiple safety constraints.
By Ankur Naskar, Swetha Ganesh, Vaneet Aggarwal
arXiv:2607. 06935v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: Reinforcement learning (RL) is increasingly grounded in tools from probability, optimization, and operator theory.
By Denis Belomestny, Alexander Gasnikov, Egor Gladin, Alexey Naumov, Artemy Rubtsov, Yuri Sapronov, Daniil Tiapkin, Nikita Yudin
arXiv:2506. 07040v4 Announce Type: replace-cross Abstract: We study model-free methods for distributionally robust infinite-horizon average-reward Markov decision processes (MDPs).
By Yang Xu, Swetha Ganesh, Vaneet Aggarwal
arXiv:2602. 00781v2 Announce Type: replace Abstract: Online reinforcement learning in non-episodic, finite-horizon MDPs remains underexplored and is challenged by the need to estimate returns to a fixed terminal time.
By Jiamin Xu, Kyra Gan