TILOS is a U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Institute for Learning-enabled Optimization at Scale, funded by NSF with additional support from Intel Corporation. Our mission is to become the nexus of learning, optimization, and the leading edge of practice for three high-stage areas: chips, networks, and robotics. A partnership of faculty from University of California, San Diego, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, National University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Texas at Austin, and Yale University, NSF TILOS use-domain research pioneers learning-enabled optimizations that transform chip design, robotics, communication networks, and other use domains that are vital to our nation’s health, prosperity and welfare. Our foundational research pursues five main pillars:

  • Bridging discrete and continuous optimization.
  • Distributed, parallel, and federated optimization.
  • Optimization on manifolds.
  • Dynamic decisions under uncertainty.
  • Nonconvex optimization in deep learning.
A diagram representing the interconnectedness of the various components of TILOS mission
FEATURED PRESENTATION
Machine Learning, Fairness and AI: A Conversation with Adam Kalai

Recordings of past TILOS Seminars and other presentations are available at tilos.ai/recorded_talks.
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Congratulations to Nisheeth Vishnoi for his election to the 2026 Class of IEEE Fellows!

The 2026 IEEE Fellows Class acknowledges Vishnoi “for contributions to algorithms, optimization, and fairness in decision-making.”...

UC San Diego is Strengthening U.S. Semiconductor Innovation and Workforce Development

Andrew Kahng is part of several major national initiatives that together are transforming how future engineers learn to design and build computer chips. His work is helping UC San Diego...

Dr. Henrik Christensen Discusses the Future of the Global Robotics Industry

An interview with Dr. Henrik Christensen, TILOS Robotics team co-lead and Distinguished Professor of Computer Science at UC San Diego, about the “marriage” of AI and physical automation. Christensen explains...

Embodied AI Research Takes Center Stage at San Diego Robotics Forum

UC San Diego Today || The San Diego Robotics Forum celebrated its 10th anniversary Nov. 5, 2025 with talks from startup founders who are also alumni, entrepreneur guest speakers, and...

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STATEMENT OF VALUES

  • CROSS-DISCIPLINARY

    We are a community of cross-disciplinary scholarship, creativity and curiosity, and value the pursuit of knowledge, the advancement of technology, and professional development.

  • INTEGRITY

    We are a community of integrity and character that values what is honorable and honest in addressing real societal needs and grand challenges.

  • INCLUSIVITY

    We are an inclusive community that values the perspectives of and contributions from members of all groups.