Investigating the potential of AI-driven innovations for enhancing differential evolution in optimization tasks

Abstract

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning have demonstrated remarkable potential in various application domains, including optimization. This study investigates the process of leveraging AI, particularly large language models (LLMs), to enhance the performance of metaheuristics, with a focus on the well-established Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm. We employ GPT, a state-of-the-art LLM, to propose an improved mutation strategy based on a dynamic switching mechanism, which is then integrated into the DE algorithm. Throughout the investigation, we also observe and analyze any errors or limitations the LLM might exhibit. We conduct extensive experiments on a comprehensive set of 30 benchmark functions, comparing the performance of the proposed AI-inspired strategy with the standard DE algorithm. The results suggest that the AI-driven dynamic switching mutation strategy provides a competitive edge in terms of solution quality, showcasing the potential of using AI to guide the development of improved optimization algorithms. This work not only highlights the effectiveness of the proposed strategy but also contributes to the understanding of the process of using LLMs for enhancing metaheuristics and the challenges involved therein.