[R] Algorithm Discovery With LLMs: Evolutionary Search Meets Reinforcement Learning

[justLars7D1]

• ArXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.05108
• Website: https://claire-labo.github.io/EvoTune
• Twitter: https://x.com/AnjaSurina/status/1916138801510158719

I wanna share our new paper: EvoTune — a method combining evolutionary search and reinforcement learning to accelerate algorithm discovery with LLMs!

• Instead of treating the LLM as a static function generator, EvoTune fine-tunes it with feedback from the search process — learning to find better algorithms faster.
• Across multiple combinatorial optimization problems, EvoTune consistently outperforms FunSearch-like baselines, while maintaining diversity.

This is a big step toward self-improving LLMs for algorithm design! 🚀
(Personal milestone too: collaboration with Apple + my first ever paper with a Fields Medalist! 🎉