fitting - What is behind experimental function: FindFormula?

In version 10.2 there is a new experimental function: FindFormula[].

I suspect that a genetic programming algorithm (symbolic regression) is behind this new feature, but I can't find any references.

Question

• What is behind this new function?

Answer

The Experimental function FindFormula[] at the moment is using a combination of different methods: it combines non linear regression with Markov chain Monte Carlo methods (e.g. Metropolis–Hastings algorithm). In the future (possibly in V$10.3$) there will be an option allowing the user to choose which method to use.