A Single-Loop Gradient Algorithm for Pessimistic Bilevel Optimization via Smooth Approximation

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Hauptverfasser: Cao, Qichao, Zeng, Shangzhi, Zhang, Jin
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2025
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author Cao, Qichao
Zeng, Shangzhi
Zhang, Jin
author_facet Cao, Qichao
Zeng, Shangzhi
Zhang, Jin
contents Bilevel optimization has garnered significant attention in the machine learning community recently, particularly regarding the development of efficient numerical methods. While substantial progress has been made in developing efficient algorithms for optimistic bilevel optimization, the study of methods for solving Pessimistic Bilevel Optimization (PBO) remains relatively less explored, especially the design of fully first-order, single-loop gradient-based algorithms. This paper aims to bridge this research gap. We first propose a novel smooth approximation to the PBO problem, using penalization and regularization techniques. Building upon this approximation, we then propose SiPBA (Single-loop Pessimistic Bilevel Algorithm), a new gradient-based method specifically designed for PBO which avoids second-order derivative information or inner-loop iterations for subproblem solving. We provide theoretical validation for the proposed smooth approximation scheme and establish theoretical convergence for the algorithm SiPBA. Numerical experiments on synthetic examples and practical applications demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of SiPBA.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2509_26240
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A Single-Loop Gradient Algorithm for Pessimistic Bilevel Optimization via Smooth Approximation
Cao, Qichao
Zeng, Shangzhi
Zhang, Jin
Optimization and Control
Bilevel optimization has garnered significant attention in the machine learning community recently, particularly regarding the development of efficient numerical methods. While substantial progress has been made in developing efficient algorithms for optimistic bilevel optimization, the study of methods for solving Pessimistic Bilevel Optimization (PBO) remains relatively less explored, especially the design of fully first-order, single-loop gradient-based algorithms. This paper aims to bridge this research gap. We first propose a novel smooth approximation to the PBO problem, using penalization and regularization techniques. Building upon this approximation, we then propose SiPBA (Single-loop Pessimistic Bilevel Algorithm), a new gradient-based method specifically designed for PBO which avoids second-order derivative information or inner-loop iterations for subproblem solving. We provide theoretical validation for the proposed smooth approximation scheme and establish theoretical convergence for the algorithm SiPBA. Numerical experiments on synthetic examples and practical applications demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of SiPBA.
title A Single-Loop Gradient Algorithm for Pessimistic Bilevel Optimization via Smooth Approximation
topic Optimization and Control
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.26240