The 20th Learning and Intelligent Optimization Conference (LION) will be held on 15-19 June 2026, in Milan, Italy. It will include a special session: LEARNING AND OPTIMIZATION UNDER UNCERTAINTY FOR DYNAMIC AUTONOMOUS NAVIGATION. https://www.lion20.org/
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A new special session “AI-Driven Optimization: Transforming Optimization with LLMs” at LION20 has been announced:
Large Language Models (LLMs) are emerging as powerful tools for optimization, complementing and extending traditional methods. Their ability to understand problem descriptions, generate heuristics, and support human-in-the-loop decision making opens new possibilities for modeling and solving complex real-world problems. This session invites contributions on how LLMs and related AI techniques can be applied to domains such as logistics, scheduling, energy systems, and finance. Topics of interest include AI-assisted problem formulation, heuristic discovery, end-to-end methods, hybrid approaches that combine LLMs with classical algorithms, and practical applications that demonstrate their impact. Special attention will be given to challenges of scalability, interpretability, and reliability in operational settings. The session aims to bring together researchers and practitioners to explore how LLMs can transform optimization research and practice.