Title: Advanced Neuroevolution: A gradient-free algorithm to train Deep Neural Networks. Abstract: In this paper we present a novel optimization algorithm called Advanced Neuroevolution. The aim for this algorithm is to train deep neural networks, and eventually act as an alternative to Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD) and its variants as needed.We evaluated our algorithm on the MNIST dataset, as well as on several global optimization problems such as the Ackley function. We find the algorithm performing relatively well for both cases, overtaking other global optimization algorithms such as Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Evolution Strategies (ES).
