The 6 Optimization Algorithms: How AI Learns to Learn 10× Faster with 50% Less Memory
Last Updated on February 19, 2026 by Editorial Team
Author(s): TANVEER MUSTAFA
Originally published on Towards AI.
The 6 Optimization Algorithms: How AI Learns to Learn 10× Faster with 50% Less Memory
You’re training a language model with 175 billion parameters.

This article explores six optimization algorithms utilized in training large language models (LLMs), emphasizing the importance of effective training strategies that save time and resources. Each algorithm, including SGD, Adam, AdamW, LAMB, Adafactor, and Lion, has unique characteristics suited for different scenarios, from simple models to massive datasets. The article outlines how these methods impact training time, memory usage, and overall model performance, asserting that choosing the right optimizer can significantly enhance both efficiency and efficacy in deep learning applications.
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