arXiv Machine Learning

Local and Global Stability in Performative Reinforcement Learning

arXiv Machine Learning
Jul 14

Paradoxes of Game Theoretic Equilibria and Price of Anarchy

arXiv:2607. 11752v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: For decades, static solution concepts (Nash, Correlated, and Coarse Correlated Equilibria) and the Price of Anarchy (PoA) have formed the bedrock of algorithmic game theory, with no-regret learning proving fast convergence to such game-theoretic equilibria.

By Georgios Piliouras, Ian Gemp, Siqi Liu, Luke Marris
Hugging Face Trending Papers
Jul 13

Paradoxes of Game Theoretic Equilibria and Price of Anarchy

For decades, static solution concepts (Nash, Correlated, and Coarse Correlated Equilibria) and the Price of Anarchy (PoA) have formed the bedrock of algorithmic game theory, with no-regret learning proving fast convergence to such game-theoretic equilibria. We show that reducing multi-agent learning to static equilibrium and black-box regret analysis obscures underlying dynamic disequilibrium and game theoretic bounds.

arXiv Machine Learning
Jul 22

Scalable Policy Optimization for Networked Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning with Continuous State-Action Spaces

arXiv:2607. 18554v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: We develop the Continuous Distributed Coupled Policy Gradient (CDCPG) algorithm for cooperative reinforcement learning in networked Markov decision processes with continuous state and action spaces.

By Dongming Wang, Pengcheng Dai, Wenwu Yu, Wei Ren
arXiv Machine Learning
Jul 13

SafeExplorer: An Unbiased Policy Gradient for Reinforcement Learning with Recovery Interventions

arXiv:2607. 08925v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: Training reinforcement-learning agents directly on physical robots makes every fall costly, since a fall can damage the platform and cannot be undone like a simulator reset; the goal is therefore to minimize falls during training rather than trade them off against return, as constrained Markov decision process (MDP) formulations do.

By Elham Daneshmand, Majid Khadiv, Glen Berseth, Hsiu-Chin Lin
arXiv Machine Learning
Sep 4

Robust PAC Learning of Concurrent Stochastic Games

The paper presents the first PAC learning framework for general-sum concurrent stochastic games with uncertain transitions, addressing the challenge of Nash equilibrium existence. It introduces data‑driven L¹ confidence sets over transition kernels and a robust CSG solver that computes a social‑welfare optimal ε‑NE, or provides a certificate that no exact NE exists. The algorithm achieves polynomial sample complexity under a minimum reachability condition and is validated on benchmark CSGs with near‑optimal performance.

By Angel Y. He, David Parker
arXiv Machine Learning
Aug 17

What preferences can - and cannot - predict in multi-agent online learning

arXiv:2608. 13810v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: We examine the interplay between ordinal, preference-based solution concepts in games and the long-run behavior of game dynamics, asking in particular to what extent the combinatorial data of a game -- its preference graph -- determine the outcomes of no-regret learning dynamics -- such as follow-the-regularized-leader (FTRL).

By Omar Abbadi, Rida Laraki, Panayotis Mertikopoulos
arXiv Machine Learning
Jul 28

Finite-Time Analysis of the Natural Policy Gradient in Finite-Horizon Markov Decision Processes

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 Machine Learning
2d ago

High-Probability Nash Regret for Decentralized Learning in Markov $\alpha$-Potential Games: Episodic and Fully Online Asynchronous Algorithms with Applications to Markov Congestion Games

arXiv:2609. 14959v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: We study decentralized learning of Nash equilibria (NE) in infinite-horizon discounted Markov games under bandit feedback, focusing on Markov $\alpha$-potential games.

By S. Rasoul Etesami
arXiv Machine Learning
Jun 11

Mirror Descent Beyond Euclidean Stability: An Exponential Separation in Initialization Sensitivity

arXiv:2606. 11431v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: Mirror Descent (MD) extends Gradient Descent (GD) beyond Euclidean geometry and has recently reappeared as a lens for KL-regularized policy optimization in reinforcement learning and LLM post-training.

By Shira Vansover-Hager, Matan Schliserman, Ofir Schlisselberg, Tomer Koren
arXiv Machine Learning
Aug 31

Aspiration-based Perturbed Learning Automata in Games with Noisy Utility Measurements. Part A: Stochastic Stability in Non-zero-Sum Games

The paper introduces aspiration-based perturbed learning automata (APLA), a payoff‑based learning scheme that incorporates an aspiration factor to reinforce action selection in distributed multi‑player games. It presents a stochastic stability analysis of APLA in positive‑utility games with noisy observations, establishing that the infinite‑dimensional Markov chain induced by the dynamics can be reduced to a finite‑dimensional one. This work extends previous results beyond potential and coordination games to generic non‑zero‑sum games, with a second part focusing on weakly acyclic games.

By Georgios C. Chasparis
Hugging Face Trending Papers
Sep 3

Robust PAC Learning of Concurrent Stochastic Games

We introduce the first Probably Approximately Correct (PAC) learning framework for general-sum concurrent stochastic games (CSGs) with transition uncertainty, while addressing the challenge of Nash equilibrium (NE) existence. Our algorithm maintains data-driven $L^1$ confidence sets over transition kernels and solves a robust CSG to compute a social-welfare optimal $\varepsilon$-NE, using a robust MDP-based exploration mechanism to drive joint state-action coverage.