CS378 Neuroevolution

Instructor:

Risto Miikkulainen
risto@cs.utexas.edu
Office hrs Tuesdays 7-8pm CT GDC 3.826 (exceptions)

TA:

Saina Razvani
srezvani@utexas.edu
Office hrs Fridays 1:30 - 2:30pm CT Zoom link: https://utexas.zoom.us/j/3835816914

Text:

Sebastian Risi, Risto Miikkulainen, David Ha, Yujin Tang (forthcoming 2025) Neuroevolution: Harnessing Creativity in AI Model Design Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
(available online this semester).

Organization:

The class follows the traditional format: reading assignments from the textbook for each lecture, homework assignments throughout the semester, a midterm exam, and a final exam. For those students who may want to continue research on neuroevolution, it is also possible to do a small optional project.

Grading:

30% Homework
25% Midterm (in class on 10/9/24)
35% Final (3:30-5:30pm on 12/13/24 in GDC 2.216)
10% Review questions
+5% Project (extra credit)

• No makeup exams without a valid proof of unexpected emergency.
• You have five late days for which there is no penalty. After those five days are used up over the semester, turning homework in late will reduce the grade 15% for the first 24hrs, 40% for the second, 75% for the third, and 100% after that.
  
• Plus/minus final grades will be used; attendance will not affect the final grade.
  
• Students with disabilities may request appropriate academic accommodations from the Services for Students with Disabilities.
  
• Cheating will not be tolerated; see Standards of Conduct
  

More details:

Class Description
Class Schedule
Homework
Exams
Review Questions
Project
Class Resources

Interesting and useful links:

Neuroevolution Demos
Risto @ Lex Fridman Cognizant AI Labs