Researchers have explored the role of optimizers in mode connectivity within neural networks, a concept previously underexplored. Their work demonstrates that solutions generated by a single optimizer, such as AdamW or Muon, form a connected set in two-layer ReLU networks at sufficient width. The study further characterizes how regions from different optimizers interact, showing they can be disjoint or overlapping depending on regularization and network width. Empirical tests on GPT-2 pretraining revealed that paths using the same optimizer maintain spectral properties, while cross-optimizer paths exhibit smoother transitions, highlighting optimizer-dependent structures. AI
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IMPACT Reveals optimizer-dependent structure in model training, potentially influencing future optimization techniques for large models.
RANK_REASON Academic paper detailing novel findings on optimizer-induced mode connectivity in neural networks. [lever_c_demoted from research: ic=1 ai=1.0]