Simple online learning with consistency oracle
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We consider online learning in the model where a learning algorithm can access the class only via the consistency oracle – an oracle, that, at any moment, can give a function from the class that agrees with all examples seen so far. This model was recently considered by Assos et al. (COLT'23). It is motivated by the fact that standard methods of online learning rely on computing the Littlestone dimension of subclasses, a problem that is computationally intractable. Assos et al. gave an online learning algorithm in this model that makes at most C^d mistakes on classes of Littlestone dimension d, for some absolute unspecified constant C > 0. We give a novel algorithm that makes at most O(256^d) mistakes. Our proof is significantly simpler and uses only very basic properties of the Littlestone dimension. We also observe that there exists no algorithm in this model that makes at most 2^d+1-2 mistakes. We also observe that our algorithm (as well as the algorithm of Assos et al.) solves an open problem by Hasrati and Ben-David (ALT'23). Namely, it demonstrates that every class of finite Littlestone dimension with recursively enumerable representation admits a computable online learner (that may be undefined on unrealizable samples).
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