- 13-09-2024
- Artificial Intelligence
Algorithm, inspired by the nervous system, improves bipartite matching efficiency and privacy, with applications in ridesharing, organ donation, and more.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory's Associate Professor Saket Navlakha has developed a new algorithm inspired by the nervous system to improve bipartite matching, a fundamental computer science problem used in ridesharing, organ donation, and other fields. In animals, neurons compete to connect with muscle fibers, and the system prunes excess connections over time. Navlakha adapted this biological process into a simple, two-equation algorithm that efficiently matches pairs, such as drivers and riders or donors and recipients. The algorithm has shown near-optimal performance while preserving privacy, and could have widespread applications in various matching systems.