Large Language Model-Guided Optimization

Overview

This field studies how language models can use learned patterns and natural-language understanding to help search for better algorithms, programs, designs, prompts, and agent workflows. Common approaches combine model-generated proposals with evolutionary search, Bayesian optimization, reinforcement learning, or classical solvers, then use execution, simulator, or benchmark feedback to select and repair candidates. Applications range from combinatorial and scientific optimization to GPU kernels, compiler code, engineering design, and tuning language-model systems. A central open tension is that language models can suggest useful structures but may be unreliable, costly, or prone to overfitting, so robust evaluation, constraint checks, and comparisons with numerical methods remain essential.

Latest papers

CardsList

613 papers101 papers in the last four weeks, up 60% on the four weeks before. 0.6% of all new papers.

  1. Elicitation Matters: How Prompts and Query Protocols Shape LLM Surrogates under Sparse Observations

    May 6, 2026Ge Lei, Samuel J. CooperSurrogate ModelingBayesian Optimization

  2. Automated Large-scale CVRP Solver Design via LLM-assisted Flexible MCTS

    May 5, 2026Tong Guo, Caishun Chen, Yew Soon OngAutomated Algorithm DiscoveryLarge Language Model-Guided Optimization

  3. Programmatic Context Augmentation for LLM-based Symbolic Regression

    May 4, 2026Hao Liu, Xiao-Wen Yang, Atharva Sehgal +4Large Language Model-Guided OptimizationLarge Language Model-Guided Scientific Discovery

  4. Enhanced LLM Reasoning by Optimizing Reward Functions with Search-Driven Reinforcement Learning

    May 3, 2026Arash Ahmadi, Sarah Sharif, Yaser +1Reinforcement LearningLarge Language Model-Guided Optimization

  5. Discover Fast Power Allocation Solution for Multi-Target Tracking via AlphaEvolve Evolution

    May 3, 2026Zhenkang Hou, Wenqiang Pu, Junkun Yan +2Large Language Model-Guided OptimizationWireless Resource Allocation

  6. GIFT: Guided Fine-Tuning and Transfer for Enhancing Instruction-Tuned Language Models

    May 2, 2026Zhiwen Ruan, Yichao Du, Jianjie Zheng +6LLM Fine-TuningLarge Language Model-Guided Optimization

  7. Learning to Act and Cooperate for Distributed Black-Box Consensus Optimization

    May 1, 2026Zi-Bo Qin, Feng-Feng Wei, Tai-You Chen +1Multi-Agent System OptimizationMulti-Agent Coordination

  8. InvEvolve: Evolving White-Box Inventory Policies via Large Language Models with Performance Guarantees

    May 1, 2026Chenyu Huang, Jianghao Lin, Zhengyang Tang +4Inventory ControlLarge Language Model-Guided Optimization

  9. Design Structure Matrix Modularization with Large Language Models

    Apr 30, 2026Shuo Jiang, Jianxi LuoLarge Language Model-Guided OptimizationCombinatorial Optimization

  10. Language Models Refine Mechanical Linkage Designs Through Symbolic Reflection and Modular Optimisation

    Apr 30, 2026João Pedro Gandarela, Thiago Rios, Stefan Menzel +1Mechanism DesignLarge Language Model-Guided Optimization

  11. Relation Reasoning with LLMs in Expensive Optimization

    Apr 30, 2026Ye Lu, Bingdong Li, Aimin Zhou +1Surrogate-Assisted OptimizationBlack-Box Optimization

  12. LLM-Guided Runtime Parameter Optimization for Energy-Efficient Model Inference

    Apr 29, 2026Katelyn Crumpacker, Dimitrios NikolopoulosLLM Inference EfficiencyEnergy-Efficient ML

  13. MappingEvolve: LLM-Driven Code Evolution for Technology Mapping

    Apr 29, 2026Rongliang Fu, Yi Liu, Qiang Xu +1Evolutionary OptimizationLarge Language Model-Guided Optimization

  14. Agentic Architect: An Agentic AI Framework for Architecture Design Exploration and Optimization

    Apr 28, 2026Vasilis Kypriotis, Alexander Blasberg, Alexandros Moiras +1Large Language Model-Guided Optimization

  15. SeaEvo: Advancing Algorithm Discovery with Strategy Space Evolution

    Apr 27, 2026Sichun Luo, Yi Huang, Haochen Luo +7Automated Algorithm DiscoveryEvolutionary Optimization

  16. Thoughts-as-Planning: Latent World Models for Chain-of-Thoughts Optimization via Reinforcement Planning

    Apr 27, 2026Dong Liu, Yanxuan Yu, Ying Nian WuCoT ReasoningLarge Language Model-Guided Optimization

  17. A2DEPT: Large Language Model-Driven Automated Algorithm Design via Evolutionary Program Trees

    Apr 27, 2026Bin Chen, Shouliang Zhu, Beidan Liu +4Automated Algorithm DiscoveryAutomated Heuristic Design

  18. C-MORAL: Controllable Multi-Objective Molecular Optimization with Reinforcement Alignment for LLMs

    Apr 24, 2026Rui Gao, Youngseung Jeon, Swastik Roy +2RL for Language ModelsMolecular Optimization

  19. Practical Quantum CIM Empowerment via All-Domestic-Core Agentic Large Model

    Apr 24, 2026Wang Rui, Lu DiannanLarge Language Model-Guided Optimization

  20. OptiVerse: A Comprehensive Benchmark towards Optimization Problem Solving

    Apr 23, 2026Xinyu Zhang, Boxuan Zhang, Yuchen Wan +5LLM EvaluationBenchmark Design

  21. Dual-Cluster Memory Agent: Resolving Multi-Paradigm Ambiguity in Optimization Problem Solving

    Apr 22, 2026Xinyu Zhang, Yuchen Wan, Boxuan Zhang +4Large Language Model-Guided OptimizationAgent Memory Management

  22. What Makes an LLM a Good Optimizer? A Trajectory Analysis of LLM-Guided Evolutionary Search

    Apr 21, 2026Xinhao Zhang, Xi Chen, François Portet +1Evolutionary OptimizationLarge Language Model-Guided Optimization

  23. Evaluation-driven Scaling for Scientific Discovery

    Apr 21, 2026Haotian Ye, Haowei Lin, Jingyi Tang +22Large Language Model-Guided OptimizationInference-Time Scaling

  24. Streamliners for Answer Set Programming

    Apr 21, 2026Florentina Voboril, Martin Gebser, Stefan Szeider +1Logic ProgrammingLarge Language Model-Guided Optimization

  25. Bayesian Active Learning with Gaussian Processes Guided by LLM Relevance Scoring for Dense Passage Retrieval

    Apr 20, 2026Junyoung Kim, Anton Korikov, Jiazhou Liang +5Large Language Model-Guided OptimizationActive Learning