ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Memetic algorithms

Okay, so a memetic algorithm is like a little game for computers. Imagine you have a box with a bunch of shapes in it, and you want to figure out the best way to fit all those shapes together into a picture. That’s what a memetic algorithm does – it helps a computer figure out the best way to solve a puzzle by trying lots of different ways and keeping track of which one works the best.

But here’s the twist: a memetic algorithm is more than just a game. It’s also like having a really smart friend helping you figure out how to solve the puzzle. Your friend might know some tricks that you don’t, or they might see patterns that you miss. In the same way, a memetic algorithm uses some clever tricks to figure out which pieces should go where, and it uses feedback from previous attempts to make better guesses in the future.

One of the cool things about memetic algorithms is that they can solve all sorts of puzzles, like figuring out the best route for a delivery truck, or finding the shortest path through a maze. And just like when you play a game with your friends, a memetic algorithm gets better and better over time as it learns from its mistakes and figures out new strategies.