LLMs generate possibilities; knowledge graphs remember what works
LLMs generate possibilities; knowledge graphs remember what works. Together, they forge the recursive memory and creative engine that enables AI systems to truly evolve themselves.
Combining neural components (like large language models) with symbolic verification creates a powerful framework for self-evolution that overcomes limitations of either approach used independently.
AlphaEvolve demonstrates that self-evolving systems face a fundamental tension between generating novel solutions and ensuring those solutions actually work.
The paper shows how AlphaEvolve addresses this through a hybrid architecture where:
Neural components (LLMs) provide creative generation of code modifications by drawing on patterns learned from vast training data
Symbolic components (code execution) provide ground truth verification through deterministic evaluation
Without this combination, a system would either generate interesting but incorrect solutions (neural-only approach) or be limited to small, safe modifications within known patterns (symbolic-only approach).
The system can operate at multiple levels of abstraction depending on the problem: raw solution evolution, constructor function evolution, search algorithm evolution, or co-evolution of intermediate solutions and search algorithms.
This capability emanates directly from the neurosymbolic integration, where:
Neural networks excel at working with continuous, high-dimensional spaces and recognizing patterns across abstraction levels
Symbolic systems provide precise representations of discrete structures and logical relationships
This enables AlphaEvolve to modify everything from specific lines of code to entire algorithmic approaches.
While AlphaEvolve currently uses an evolutionary database, a knowledge graph structure could significantly enhance self-evolution by:
Capturing evolutionary relationships between solutions
Identifying patterns of code changes that consistently lead to improvements
Representing semantic connections between different solution approaches
Supporting transfer learning across problem domains
Automated, objective evaluation is the core foundation enabling self-evolution:
The main limitation of AlphaEvolve is that it handles problems for which it is possible to devise an automated evaluator.
This evaluation component provides the "ground truth" feedback that guides evolution, allowing the system to:
Differentiate between successful and unsuccessful modifications
Create selection pressure toward better-performing solutions
Avoid hallucinations or non-functional solutions that might emerge from neural components alone.
When applied to optimize Gemini's training kernels, the system essentially improved the very LLM technology that powers it. | 12 comments on LinkedIn
LLMs generate possibilities; knowledge graphs remember what works