OpenAI reports a one-sample matroid prophet inequality against full-seed ordering

For every finite matroid, one independent sample per element supports an online rule with expected reward at least 2^-310 times the expected offline optimum, even when the arrival-order adversary sees all samples, online values, and the rule’s seed.

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OpenAI reports a one-sample matroid prophet inequality against full-seed ordering

  • Theoretical Computer Science

For every finite matroid, one independent sample per element supports an online rule with expected reward at least 2^-310 times the expected offline optimum, even when the arrival-order adversary sees all samples, online values, and the rule’s seed.

AI involvementAI-led
ImportanceNotable
Technical verificationFormal (Lean 4)
Human understandingFew

Understanding the problem

Read the background

For every finite matroid, one independent sample per element supports an online rule with expected reward at least 2^-310 times the expected offline optimum, even when the arrival-order adversary sees all samples, online values, and the rule’s seed.

Why it matters

If correct, gives a constant independent of matroid rank under an unusually strong adversarial arrival model.

What counts as progress

Can one sample per element support a constant matroid prophet guarantee against a full-seed ordering adversary?

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