arXiv:2606. 00984v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: We study linear contextual bandits under rare parameter updates: the learner may incorporate reward feedback into its parameter estimate only at a small number of update times, while still observing contexts online and selecting actions sequentially.
By Sanghoon Yu, Min-hwan Oh
The paper extends the idea that contexts are cheap for linear bandits from i.i.d. settings to Markovian context processes. By assuming uniform geometric ergodicity, the authors construct a stationary surrogate action set and use a delayed‑update scheme to mitigate bias from nonstationary conditional context distributions. They provide a phased algorithm for unknown stationary distributions and achieve high‑probability regret bounds comparable to standard linear bandit oracles in fast‑mixing regimes, with empirical validation showing gains over LinUCB.
By Kaan Buyukkalayci, Osama Hanna, Christina Fragouli
The paper introduces a new approach to safety in contextual bandits with continuous actions, focusing on high‑probability constraints on the realized cost rather than expected cost. It presents the High‑Probability Constrained UCB algorithm, which balances reward exploration with conservative safety estimation, and provides theoretical regret guarantees for linear models and extensions to general function classes. Experiments demonstrate that this realized‑cost safety framework significantly reduces safety violations compared to expected‑cost constrained methods.
By Spyros Dragazis, Aldo Pacchiano
We study the contextual combinatorial semi-bandit (CCSB) problem with general reward function approximation. At each round, the learner observes a context, selects a combinatorial action consisting of a subset of basic arms, and receives the reward of each selected arm; the goal is to maximize the cumulative reward over time.
The paper introduces a new approach to safety in contextual bandits with continuous actions by enforcing high‑probability constraints on the realized cost rather than on its expectation. It proposes the High‑Probability Constrained UCB algorithm, which balances optimistic reward exploration with pessimistic safety estimation. The authors provide theoretical regret guarantees for linear models and extend the analysis to general function classes, demonstrating experimentally that realized‑cost constraints significantly reduce safety violations compared to expected‑cost baselines.
arXiv:2510. 07424v3 Announce Type: replace Abstract: We study linear contextual bandits with paid observations, where at each round the learner observes a context, selects an action, and may pay a fixed cost to observe feedback from a subset of arms.
By Nathan Boyer, Dorian Baudry, Patrick Rebeschini
arXiv:2607. 13686v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: We study the contextual combinatorial semi-bandit (CCSB) problem with general reward function approximation.
By Hao Qin, Chicheng Zhang
arXiv:2604. 08149v2 Announce Type: replace Abstract: We consider a linear contextual bandit model where contexts and rewards are governed by a finite hidden Markov chain.
By Zhen Li (LMO, CELESTE, HEC Paris), Gilles Stoltz (LMO, CELESTE, HEC Paris)
arXiv:2606. 17489v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: Large Language Models (LLMs) are increasingly deployed in edge-cloud inference systems to handle diverse user tasks with heterogeneous accuracy, latency, and cost profiles.
By Yin Huang, Qingsong Liu, Jie Xu
arXiv:2606. 02595v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: Dynamic pricing in short-term rental (STR) markets presents a distinctive challenge for online learning algorithms: pricing decisions carry significant financial risk, operators require explainability, and market feedback is sparse (one booking outcome per listed night).
By Oleg Miroshnichenko
arXiv:2606. 31449v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: We investigate the contextual slate bandit problem with generalized linear rewards under limited adaptivity.
By Tanmay Goyal, Sukruta Prakash Midigeshi, Gaurav Sinha
arXiv:2510.10730v3 Announce Type: replace
Abstract: We provide a unified algorithmic framework for ensemble sampling in nonlinear contextual bandits and develop corresponding regret bounds for two mo...
By Jiazheng Sun, Weixin Wang, Pan Xu