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Novel First Order Bayesian Optimization with an Application to Reinforcement Learning

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Abstract

Zeroth Order Bayesian Optimization (ZOBO) methods optimize an unknown function based on its black-box evaluations at the query locations. Unlike most optimization procedures, ZOBO methods fail to utilize gradient information even when it is available. On the other hand, First Order Bayesian Optimization (FOBO) methods exploit the available gradient information to arrive at better solutions faster. However, the existing FOBO methods do not utilize a crucial information that the gradient is zero at the optima. Further, the inherent sequential nature of the FOBO methods incur high computational cost limiting their wide applicability. To alleviate the aforementioned difficulties of FOBO methods, we propose a relaxed statistical model to leverage the gradient information that directly searches for points where gradient vanishes. To accomplish this, we develop novel acquisition algorithms that search for global optima effectively. Unlike the existing FOBO methods, the proposed methods are parallelizable. Through extensive experimentation on standard test functions, we compare the performance of our methods over the existing methods. Furthermore, we explore an application of the proposed FOBO methods in the context of policy gradient reinforcement learning.

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Notes

  1. This observation could be utilized in the existing FOBO methods as well. However, due to the computational burden of the joint GP model in the existing FOBO methods, we propose to to utilize this fact in independent GP modeling . Note further that we do not require joint GP modeling to utilize this fact.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Dharwad, India

    Prabuchandran K. J.

  2. IBM Research, Bangalore, India

    Santosh Penubothula

  3. Department of Computer Science and Automation, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India

    Chandramouli Kamanchi & Shalabh Bhatnagar

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  1. Prabuchandran K. J.
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  2. Santosh Penubothula
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  3. Chandramouli Kamanchi
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  4. Shalabh Bhatnagar
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Correspondence to Prabuchandran K. J..

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Prabuchandran K. J. was supported by SGNF research grant from Indian Institute of Technology, Dharwad.

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J., P.K., Penubothula, S., Kamanchi, C. et al. Novel First Order Bayesian Optimization with an Application to Reinforcement Learning. Appl Intell 51, 1565–1579 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10489-020-01896-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10489-020-01896-w

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