arXiv AI

Task diversity produces systematic transfer but inhibits continual reinforcement learning

arXiv:2606. 00880v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: Continual reinforcement learning aims to produce agents that learn not only to improve at their current tasks but also to adapt as task distributions change.

arXiv Machine Learning
1d ago

Continual Reinforcement Learning with Neuroevolution

The paper investigates continual reinforcement learning using neuroevolution, comparing evolution strategies (ES) and genetic algorithms (GAs) across diverse environments and network sizes. ES consistently achieves a better balance between stability and plasticity, while GAs are more plastic but forget more. The authors attribute this to ES finding wider neighborhoods in weight space, with overlap between consecutive tasks correlating with the stability-plasticity trade‑off, and note that common RL plasticity issues do not transfer to neuroevolution.

By Eleni Nisioti, Andrea Cossu, Kathrin Korte, Sebastian Risi
arXiv Machine Learning
Jun 2

Simple Recipe Works: Vision-Language-Action Models are Natural Continual Learners with Reinforcement Learning

arXiv:2603. 11653v2 Announce Type: replace Abstract: Continual Reinforcement Learning (CRL) for Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models is a promising direction toward self-improving embodied agents that can adapt in openended, evolving environments.

By Jiaheng Hu, Jay Shim, Chen Tang, Yoonchang Sung, Bo Liu, Peter Stone, Roberto Martin-Martin
arXiv Machine Learning
Sep 21

Benchmarking World Models for Continual Learning on Compositional Tasks

The paper introduces a compositional continual learning benchmark for world models in robot manipulation, designed to isolate knowledge reuse from learning speed and capacity. Tasks are curated to combine previously seen action and perception components, allowing analysis of how different modalities affect reuse. Experiments show that modular world models better balance reuse and forgetting than conventional methods, yet none fully solve the challenge, highlighting the need for models explicitly built to reuse knowledge without forgetting.

By Haoyu Zhou, Joe Watson, Anson Lei, Ingmar Posner