# No‑ML routing runs 30× faster than reinforcement learning, matches delivery success.

- slug: noml-routing-runs-30x-faster-than-reinforcement-learning-matches-delivery-success
- date: 2026-04-07
- category: Agentics

Five researchers built a food-delivery routing algorithm with no machine learning that still matches MADDPG and GNNs on success rates, runs 30x faster, and produces interpretable routes. The catch: it was only tested on synthetic demand in Columbus and Chicago.

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