Paper Detail

Performative Scenario Optimization

Quanyan Zhu, Zhengye Han

arxiv Score 3.8

Published 2026-03-31 · First seen 2026-04-01

General AI

Abstract

This paper introduces a performative scenario optimization framework for decision-dependent chance-constrained problems. Unlike classical stochastic optimization, we account for the feedback loop where decisions actively shape the underlying data-generating process. We define performative solutions as self-consistent equilibria and establish their existence using Kakutani's fixed-point theorem. To ensure computational tractability without requiring an explicit model of the environment, we propose a model-free, scenario-based approximation that alternates between data generation and optimization. Under mild regularity conditions, we prove that a stochastic fixed-point iteration, equipped with a logarithmic sample size schedule, converges almost surely to the unique performative solution. The effectiveness of the proposed framework is demonstrated through an emerging AI safety application: deploying performative guardrails against Large Language Model (LLM) jailbreaks. Numerical results confirm the co-evolution and convergence of the guardrail classifier and the induced adversarial prompt distribution to a stable equilibrium.

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BibTeX

@article{zhu2026performative,
  title = {Performative Scenario Optimization},
  author = {Quanyan Zhu and Zhengye Han},
  year = {2026},
  abstract = {This paper introduces a performative scenario optimization framework for decision-dependent chance-constrained problems. Unlike classical stochastic optimization, we account for the feedback loop where decisions actively shape the underlying data-generating process. We define performative solutions as self-consistent equilibria and establish their existence using Kakutani's fixed-point theorem. To ensure computational tractability without requiring an explicit model of the environment, we propos},
  url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.29982},
  keywords = {cs.GT},
  eprint = {2603.29982},
  archiveprefix = {arXiv},
}

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