arXiv Machine Learning

Decentralized Stochastic Nonconvex Optimization under the $(L_0,L_1)$-Smoothness

arXiv:2509. 08726v3 Announce Type: replace-cross Abstract: This paper focuses on the decentralized stochastic optimization problem $f(\mathbf{x})=\frac{1}{m}\sum_{i=1}^m f_i(\mathbf{x})$ over a connected network of $n$ agents, where each local function has the form of $f_i(\mathbf{x}) = {\mathbb E}\left[F(\mathbf{x};{\boldsymbol \xi}_i)\right]$ which satisfies the $(L_0,L_1)$-smooth condition but possibly nonconvex and each random variable ${\boldsymbol \xi}_i$ follows distribution ${\mathcal D}_i$.

arXiv Machine Learning
Jul 13

Solving Stochastic Fixed-Point Equations with High Probability

arXiv:2607. 09097v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: We study stochastic fixed-point equations $\mathbf{T}(\mathbf{x}) = \mathbf{x}$ over normed spaces $(\mathcal{E}, \|\cdot\|)$, where the operator $\mathbf{T}$ is nonexpansive or contractive and is accessed only through unbiased stochastic evaluations with bounded second central moment.

By Jelena Diakonikolas
arXiv Machine Learning
Sep 17

Revisiting Distributed Sign-Based Variance Reduction

The paper addresses bias introduced by aggregating local signs in distributed sign-based variance reduction methods, which hampers optimal convergence rates. By proposing an unbiased compression of recursive gradient increments to track the global gradient at the server, the authors achieve optimal convergence rates for both nonconvex stochastic and finite-sum optimization. They provide specific rate bounds for α-norms and demonstrate matching sample complexities to centralized settings for finite-sum problems.

By Wei Jiang, Zechao Li, Lijun Zhang
arXiv Machine Learning
Sep 21

Single-Loop Stochastic Projected Damped Extragradient Methods for Stochastic Nonconvex--(Strongly) Concave Minimax Optimization

The paper introduces single-loop stochastic projected damped extragradient (SPDE) and its variance-reduced variant (VR-SPDE) for stochastic nonconvex–(strongly) concave minimax problems. It provides SFO complexity bounds for achieving game stationarity and optimization stationarity, improving upon previous multi-loop methods while maintaining a single-loop structure. The results claim the best-known SFO complexities for these stationarity criteria among single-loop stochastic first‑order methods.

By Huiling Zhang, Minhao Zhang, Zi Xu