arXiv Machine Learning

Lower Complexity Bounds for Nonconvex-Strongly-Convex Bilevel Optimization with First-Order Oracles

arXiv:2511. 19656v3 Announce Type: replace Abstract: Although upper bound guarantees for bilevel optimization have been widely studied, progress on lower bounds has been limited due to the complexity of the bilevel structure.

arXiv Machine Learning
1d ago

Optimal Stochastic Bilevel Optimization with First-Order Oracles

The paper investigates nonconvex–strongly-convex bilevel optimization using a stochastic first-order oracle. It introduces MRT‑FD, a single-loop first‑order algorithm that tracks the upper-level variable, the lower-level solution, and an auxiliary response from implicit differentiation, updating all variables in each iteration and approximating second‑order derivative actions via order‑p finite differences. For any fixed finite smoothness order p ≥ 1, MRT‑FD achieves an ε‑stationary point with O(ε^{‑4‑2/p}) stochastic gradient queries, and the authors prove a matching Ω(ε^{‑4‑2/p}) lower bound, thereby closing the complexity gap in this setting.

By Linxuan Pan, Junchi Yang
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