The Foundations of AI Seminar Series is dedicated to topics of interest in artificial intelligence, machine learning, both empirically and theoretically, as well as related areas. Our goal is for these meetings to serve as a forum for discussions and quick dissemination of results. We invite anyone interested in the latest advancements in AI/ML to join us!
Speaker: Tatjana Chavdarova Date: 01-04-2025, 2pm-3pm (BST) Location: Mathematical Science Building, MSB0.01, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
Intelligence frequently evolves through interaction and competition. In a similar vein, advanced AI algorithms often depend on competing learning objectives. Whether through data sampling, environmental interactions, or self-play methods, agents continuously refine their strategies to reach an equilibrium—a state where competing objectives are balanced. This talk delves into the learning dynamics within multi-player games, where players adapt their strategies to achieve equilibrium. We will explore how these equilibrium-seeking dynamics differ from single-player optimization, tackling key challenges such as rotational dynamics, noise, and constraints. The discussion will draw on examples from machine learning, including robust objectives, generative adversarial networks, and multi-agent reinforcement learning, emphasizing the significance of learning dynamics in these areas.
Tatjana Chavdarova is a visiting professor in the Department of Electronics, Information, and Bioengineering (DEIB) at Politecnico di Milano (Polimi), where she collaborates with Nicola Gatti and Nicolò Cesa-Bianchi. Her research lies at the intersection of game theory and machine learning, with a particular emphasis on optimization and algorithmic innovation. She holds a Ph.D. in machine learning from EPFL and Idiap, where she was supervised by François Fleuret. During her doctoral studies, she completed internships at Mila, working with Yoshua Bengio and Simon Lacoste-Julien, and at DeepMind, under the mentorship of Irina Jurenka (formerly Higgins). Following her Ph.D., Tatjana served as a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at EPFL’s Machine Learning and Optimization (MLO) lab with Martin Jaggi, and later joined UC Berkeley’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) as a Postdoctoral Researcher working with Michael I. Jordan. Her research has been supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation through the Early.Postdoc.Mobility and Postdoc.Mobility fellowships.
Apr 01, 2025 at 14:00PM 
Mathematical Science Building, MSB0.01, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK 
May 06, 2025 at 14:00PM Mathematical Science Building, MB0.01, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK 
May 20, 2025 at 14:00PM Mathematical Science Building, MB0.08, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK 
May 27, 2025 at 14:00PM Mathematical Sciences Building, MB0.08, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK 
May 28, 2025 at 14:00PM Mathematical Science Building, MB0.08, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK 
Jun 03, 2025 at 14:00PM Mathematical Science Building, MB0.07, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK 
Jun 17, 2025 at 14:00PM Department of Computer Science, CS1.01, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK 
Assistant Professor, CS Department, University of Warwick
Assistant Professor, CS Department, University of Warwick
Professor, CS Department, University of Warwick