Optimization Problem Solving Can Transition to Evolutionary Agentic Workflows
On the map: LLM agents and tool use → Software engineering coding agents
Abstract (arXiv)
This position paper argues that optimization problem solving can transition from expert-dependent to evolutionary agentic workflows. Traditional optimization practices rely on human specialists for problem formulation, algorithm selection, and hyperparameter tuning, creating bottlenecks that impede industrial adoption of cutting-edge methods. We contend that an evolutionary agentic workflow, powered by foundation models and evolutionary search, can autonomously navigate the optimization space, comprising problem, formulation, algorithm, and hyperparameter spaces. Through case studies in cloud resource scheduling and ADMM parameter adaptation, we demonstrate how this approach can bridge the gap between academic innovation and industrial implementation. Our position challenges the status quo of human-centric optimization workflows and advocates for a more scalable, adaptive approach to solving real-world optimization problems.
Key facts. No citing papers in the map yet (data through 14 Oct 2026). Placed in Software engineering coding agents, one of 16 directions in LLM agents and tool use. Builds on 101 of its 173 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 7 May 2025.
Builds on
101 of 173 references.
References · 101
- 2022Chain-of-Thought Prompting Elicits Reasoning in Large Language Modelscited by 12,459
- 2020Retrieval-Augmented Generation for Knowledge-Intensive NLP Taskscited by 9,297
- 2022ReAct: Synergizing Reasoning and Acting in Language Modelscited by 8,695
- 2025DeepSeek-R1: Incentivizing Reasoning Capability in LLMs via Reinforcement Learningcited by 6,330
- 2017Model-Agnostic Meta-Learning for Fast Adaptation of Deep Networkscited by 4,897
- 2023Reflexion: Language Agents with Verbal Reinforcement Learningcited by 4,276
- 2023Toolformer: Language Models Can Teach Themselves to Use Toolscited by 4,182
- 2023Generative Agents: Interactive Simulacra of Human Behaviorcited by 3,568
- 2023Self-Refine: Iterative Refinement with Self-Feedbackcited by 3,442
- 2023Tree of Thoughts: Deliberate Problem Solving with Large Language Modelscited by 3,211
- 2022Constitutional AI: Harmlessness from AI Feedbackcited by 3,050
- 2021Convex optimizationcited by 2,515
38 more
- 2019Optuna: A Next-generation Hyperparameter Optimization Frameworkcited by 2,501
- 2023Voyager: An Open-Ended Embodied Agent with Large Language Modelscited by 2,191
- 2023Code Llama: Open Foundation Models for Codecited by 2,139
- 2023The Rise and Potential of Large Language Model Based Agents: A Surveycited by 1,439
- 2023AWQ: Activation-aware Weight Quantization for LLM Compression and Accelerationcited by 1,298
- 2023HuggingGPT: Solving AI Tasks with ChatGPT and its Friends in Hugging Facecited by 1,190
- 2022Inner Monologue: Embodied Reasoning through Planning with Language Modelscited by 1,081
- 2016An overview of gradient descent optimization algorithmscited by 1,033
- 2020Meta-Learning in Neural Networks: A Surveycited by 950
- 2018Regularized Evolution for Image Classifier Architecture Searchcited by 909
- 2023Large Language Models as Optimizerscited by 864
- 2023Reasoning with Language Model is Planning with World Modelcited by 861
- 2018Efficient Neural Architecture Search via Parameter Sharingcited by 837
- 2023ChatEval: Towards Better LLM-based Evaluators through Multi-Agent Debatecited by 742
- 2020It's Not Just Size That Matters: Small Language Models Are Also Few-Shot Learnerscited by 669
- 2024A Survey on Large Language Models for Code Generationcited by 658
- 2016Learning to learn by gradient descent by gradient descentcited by 620
- 2023Eureka: Human-Level Reward Design via Coding Large Language Modelscited by 571
- 2022Decomposed Prompting: A Modular Approach for Solving Complex Taskscited by 558
- 2024GSM-Symbolic: Understanding the Limitations of Mathematical Reasoning in Large Language Modelscited by 550
- 2018Bilevel Programming for Hyperparameter Optimization and Meta-Learningcited by 405
- 2025From System 1 to System 2: A Survey of Reasoning Large Language Modelscited by 320
- 2025Towards Large Reasoning Models: A Survey of Reinforced Reasoning with Large Language Modelscited by 293
- 2024A Survey on Knowledge Distillation of Large Language Modelscited by 284
- 2024ReEvo: Large Language Models as Hyper-Heuristics with Reflective Evolutioncited by 276
- 2024Evolution of Heuristics: Towards Efficient Automatic Algorithm Design Using Large Language Modelcited by 268
- 2023FireAct: Toward Language Agent Fine-tuningcited by 256
- 2024Data Interpreter: An LLM Agent For Data Sciencecited by 225
- 2021Learning to Optimize: A Primer and A Benchmarkcited by 208
- 2023OpenAGI: When LLM Meets Domain Expertscited by 197
- 2023Navigate through Enigmatic Labyrinth A Survey of Chain of Thought Reasoning: Advances, Frontiers and Futurecited by 184
- 2020Auto-Sklearn 2.0: Hands-free AutoML via Meta-Learningcited by 174
- 2023NL4Opt Competition: Formulating Optimization Problems Based on Their Natural Language Descriptionscited by 135
- 2024Exploring Large Language Model based Intelligent Agents: Definitions, Methods, and Prospectscited by 132
- 2023Language Model Crossover: Variation through Few-Shot Promptingcited by 122
- 2024To Believe or Not to Believe Your LLMcited by 120
- 2024OptiMUS: Scalable Optimization Modeling with (MI)LP Solvers and Large Language Modelscited by 109
- 2018Understanding and correcting pathologies in the training of learned optimizerscited by 97
50 most cited of 101 All 101 (JSON)
Built on by
Not cited yet.
Similar, not cited
Close in wording, no citation either way
- 2026Co-evolving Agent Architectures and Interpretable Reasoning for Automated Optimization
- 2026OR-Agent: Bridging Evolutionary Search and Structured Research for Automated Heuristic Design
- 2025EvoFlow: Evolving Diverse Agentic Workflows On The Fly
- 2025MermaidFlow: Redefining Agentic Workflow Generation via Safety-Constrained Evolutionary Programming
- 2026HeurEvo: Agentic Evolution of Hybrid Solver-Augmented Heuristics for Time-Critical Mathematical Optimization
- 2025Orchestrating Human-AI Teams: The Manager Agent as a Unifying Research Challenge
- 2025The (R)evolution of Scientific Workflows in the Agentic AI Era: Towards Autonomous Science
- 2026Fusion is the New Mutation: Bandit-Guided Evolution on Workflow Graphs