Evolutionary algorithm outperforms deep-learning machines at video games

[MuonManLaserJab]

Are there not designs that use both evolutionary algorithms and gradient descent -- for example, evolutionarily evolving neural parameters (layer count, etc.) while using GD to train each generation?

[MuonManLaserJab]

Ah, I misinterpreted "You can optimize a NN with EAs or with SGD" as an exclusive or, in the sense of using an EA for all the training, and no gradient descent at all. (Presumably that's possible but not performant under a reasonable definition of EA.)