On the iteration complexity of oblivious first-order optimization algorithms

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Abstract

We consider a broad class of first-order optimization algorithms which are oblivious, in the sense that their step sizes are scheduled regardless of the function under consideration, except for limited side-information such as smoothness or strong convexity parameters. With the knowledge of these two parameters, we show that any such algorithm attains an iteration complexity lower bound of Ω(√L/∈) for//-smooth convex functions, and Ω(√L/μ ln(l/∈)) for L-smooth μ-strongly convex functions. These lower bounds are stronger than those in the traditional oracle model, as they hold independently of the dimension. To attain these, we abandon the oracle model in favor of a structure-based approach which builds upon a framework recently proposed in (Arjevani et al., 2015). We further show that without knowing the strong convexity parameter, it is impossible to attain an iteration complexity better than Ω(√L/μ ln(l/∈)). This result is then used to formalize an observation regarding L-smooth convex functions, namely, that the iteration complexity of algorithms employing time-invariant step sizes must be at least Ω (Ω/∈).

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication33rd International Conference on Machine Learning, ICML 2016
EditorsMaria Florina Balcan, Kilian Q. Weinberger
Pages1433-1447
Number of pages15
ISBN (Electronic)9781510829008
StatePublished - 2016
Event33rd International Conference on Machine Learning, ICML 2016 - New York City, United States
Duration: 19 Jun 201624 Jun 2016

Publication series

Name33rd International Conference on Machine Learning, ICML 2016
Volume2

Conference

Conference33rd International Conference on Machine Learning, ICML 2016
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityNew York City
Period19/06/1624/06/16

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Software
  • Computer Networks and Communications

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