AdaptEx: A Self-Service Contextual Bandit Platform

TL;DR

AdaptEx is a scalable, self-service platform that uses contextual bandit algorithms to personalize user experiences efficiently, enabling rapid iteration and adaptation in dynamic environments at Expedia Group.

Contribution

It introduces a practical, scalable platform for contextual bandit applications that handles cold start and dynamic content challenges effectively.

Findings

Enables quick learning from user interactions

Reduces costs compared to traditional testing

Supports continuous content updates

Abstract

This paper presents AdaptEx, a self-service contextual bandit platform widely used at Expedia Group, that leverages multi-armed bandit algorithms to personalize user experiences at scale. AdaptEx considers the unique context of each visitor to select the optimal variants and learns quickly from every interaction they make. It offers a powerful solution to improve user experiences while minimizing the costs and time associated with traditional testing methods. The platform unlocks the ability to iterate towards optimal product solutions quickly, even in ever-changing content and continuous "cold start" situations gracefully.