[Discussion] Why is the Competing Conventions Problem in Neuroevolution a problem?

The Competing Conventions problem or Permutation problem is a problem that occurs in neuroevolution. It arises when there are more than one way to represent a network as a genotype.

[The competing conventions problem. \[Evolving neural networks through augmenting topologies; Stanley, Miikulainen; 2002\]](https://preview.redd.it/2wth86etpe491.png?width=460&format=png&auto=webp&s=73a6bd606e5c8c7bfc181177861f3af19e7dc07a)

When two different genotypes, that represent the same neural network, are recombined during crossover, the emerging offspring is likely to be damaged and missing information. The figure above visualizes the problem for a small neural network. Since …

machinelearning neuroevolution