# Exploring the Intersection between Neural Architecture Search and Continual Learning

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2206.05625 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2206.05625/

## Key facts

- Cited by 4 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 111 of its 247 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 11 Jun 2022.

## Builds on (most cited first, 30 of 111)

- [Deep Residual Learning for Image Recognition](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1512.03385/) (2015)
- [Very Deep Convolutional Networks for Large-Scale Image Recognition](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1409.1556/) (2014)
- [Proximal Policy Optimization Algorithms](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1707.06347/) (2017)
- [Distilling the Knowledge in a Neural Network](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1503.02531/) (2015)
- [Densely Connected Convolutional Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1608.06993/) (2016)
- [Overcoming catastrophic forgetting in neural networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1612.00796/) (2016)
- [Going Deeper with Convolutions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1409.4842/) (2014)
- [Learning without Forgetting](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1606.09282/) (2016)
- [iCaRL: Incremental Classifier and Representation Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1611.07725/) (2016)
- [Gradient Episodic Memory for Continual Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1706.08840/) (2017)
- [DARTS: Differentiable Architecture Search](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1806.09055/) (2018)
- [Neural Architecture Search with Reinforcement Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1611.01578/) (2016)
- [Progressive Neural Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1606.04671/) (2016)
- [Continual Lifelong Learning with Neural Networks: A Review](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1802.07569/) (2018)
- [Memory Aware Synapses: Learning what (not) to forget](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1711.09601/) (2017)
- [Learning Transferable Architectures for Scalable Image Recognition](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1707.07012/) (2017)
- [Experience Replay for Continual Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1811.11682/) (2018)
- [SqueezeNet: AlexNet-level accuracy with 50x fewer parameters and <0.5MB model size](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1602.07360/) (2016)
- [Regularized Evolution for Image Classifier Architecture Search](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1802.01548/) (2018)
- [Efficient Neural Architecture Search via Parameter Sharing](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1802.03268/) (2018)
- [Hyperband: A Novel Bandit-Based Approach to Hyperparameter Optimization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1603.06560/) (2016)
- [Lifelong Learning with Dynamically Expandable Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1708.01547/) (2017)
- [ProxylessNAS: Direct Neural Architecture Search on Target Task and Hardware](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1812.00332/) (2018)
- [Gradient based sample selection for online continual learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1903.08671/) (2019)
- [Progressive Neural Architecture Search](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1712.00559/) (2017)
- [FBNet: Hardware-Aware Efficient ConvNet Design via Differentiable Neural Architecture Search](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1812.03443/) (2018)
- [NAS-Bench-201: Extending the Scope of Reproducible Neural Architecture Search](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2001.00326/) (2020)
- [Single Path One-Shot Neural Architecture Search with Uniform Sampling](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1904.00420/) (2019)
- [AutoML: A Survey of the State-of-the-Art](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1908.00709/) (2019)
- [Expert Gate: Lifelong Learning with a Network of Experts](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1611.06194/) (2016)

## Built on by (most cited first, 4 of 4)

- [SEAL: Searching Expandable Architectures for Incremental Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.10457/) (2025)
- [A formal definition and meta-model for a machine theory of mind](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2606.03471/) (2026)
- [HiveNAS: Neural Architecture Search using Artificial Bee Colony Optimization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2211.10250/) (2022)
- [HERCULES: Hardware-Efficient, Robust, Continual Learning Neural Architecture Search](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.04103/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Despite the significant advances achieved in Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), their design process remains notoriously tedious, depending primarily on intuition, experience and trial-and-error. This human-dependent process is often time-consuming and prone to errors. Furthermore, the models are generally bound to their training contexts, with no considerations to their surrounding environments. Continual adaptiveness and automation of neural networks is of paramount importance to several domains where model accessibility is limited after deployment (e.g IoT devices, self-driving vehicles, etc.). Additionally, even accessible models require frequent maintenance post-deployment to overcome issues such as Concept/Data Drift, which can be cumbersome and restrictive. By leveraging and combining approaches from Neural Architecture Search (NAS) and Continual Learning (CL), more robust and adaptive agents can be developed. This study conducts the first extensive review on the intersection between NAS and CL, formalizing the prospective Continually-Adaptive Neural Networks (CANNs) paradigm and outlining research directions for lifelong autonomous ANNs.