Nic Contreras Prof.

Giles LE-1310-042 Research Paper

December 9, 2013

AI: Expert Systems

Expert n. a person who has special skill or knowledge in some particular field (Dictionary.reference.com). Soon this definition will have to be changed from person to anything that has special skill or knowledge. This is because from the very beginning AI researchers have been working to create expert systems to help modern men work through different issues and make choices logically. The way this system works will be the primary objective of this paper and I will conclude with some of the ways it is being used today and my own personal philosophy regarding these expert systems. The goal of an expert system, sometimes known as knowledge based systems, is to create an intelligent system that would be able to resolve problems. The significance behind this development is that they would be the only other thing on this planet able to solve the complex problems humans face daily. They would be able to consult or advise people on how to act regarding certain situations whether it be military strategy, different medical procedures, political policies, etc. In Edward Feigenbaums words, An Expert System is a class of computer program that can advise, analyse, categorise, communicate, consult, design, diagnose, explain, explore, forecast, form concepts, identify, interpret, justify, learn, manage, monitor, plan, present, retrieve, schedule, test or tutor. They address problems normally thought to require human specialist for their solution. (sic) (Belleguelle)

Nic Contreras Prof. Giles LE-1310-042 Research Paper

December 9, 2013

The way these systems work is fairly simple. First, knowledge regarding a certain subject is gathered from experts on say for example, medicine. The person who gathers this information the inputs it into the knowledge base of the system. Along with all that information that person also gives the system rules or inferences to follow. These are part of the inference engine, which is an automated reasoning system. Often the IF/THEN rules are used in this area of the expert system. The last part is the user interface which is how the system will communicate with the user. Those three parts make up the data, logic and communication that the expert system is founded on. (Wiki.) This simple idea has been helpful in all types of fields since its conception.

One of the more celebrated instances where the power of AIs expert system was proven was during the chess matches between Deep Blue and the chess champion of the world Gary Kasparov. This is a perfect example of an expert system. Deep Blue was not necessarily

Nic Contreras Prof. Giles LE-1310-042 Research Paper

December 9, 2013

intelligent, but it was given rules and a way to strategize different moves based on its opponents (the user) actions and that is how it won. But Deep Blue is not the only successful expert system to arise out of years of research and programming. On most computers there are programs one can run that check the software and hardware on that specific device. These systems find whatever problems are in your computer and treat them so you can work at optimum speed and quality. And the diagnosis doesnt end there. In hospitals there are systems that help doctors by diagnosing patients and documenting how a patient is responding to treatments. Think of the last time you called your own doctors office or a credit card company. Did you speak with a machine? If so, then you worked with another type of expert system. These take the information you give them (Id like to speak to the ______ department.) and match it to the data they have to complete your request. Other programs ask you to press a button depending on your reason for calling and then make inferences as to why you want to speak to a certain department or go into a certain area of their company. (Waltz) Everywhere from schools to banks to an auto shop expert systems are being used to ease the way in which we work today. Personally, I find anything that eases our day wonderful. If these machines can help us think ahead or think more logically or help us when we run into issues then they might be a

Nic Contreras Prof. Giles LE-1310-042 Research Paper

December 9, 2013

great way to advance our society. However, as always, one must always be afraid of losing the human error and emotions and all the other factors that drive us in decision making and in essence our way of life. I believe that these systems will only be helpful as an advisor of types. Entrusting too much into a machine that has no emotions, no sense of reality and no selfawareness could prove troublesome. One such problem Belleguelle addresses is that these systems would have no responsibility so if something were to go wrong who would be to blame? The company that manufactured the system? The user? Like much of the other departments in AI the right answers seem difficult to find. But I believe that the advancements we make in the expert systems side will help other aspects of AI and other fields of technology, and as always help the human race better themselves and progress.

Nic Contreras Prof. Giles LE-1310-042 Research Paper

December 9, 2013

Works Cited 1. "Expert." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 09 Dec. 2013.

<Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Expert>. 2. Belleguelle, Steve. "Expert Systems." Expert Systems. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2013 3. Copley, Steve. "Expert Systems." IGCSE ICT -. IGCSE ICT, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2013. 4. "Expert System." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Oct. 2013. Web. 10 Dec. 2013. 5. Waltz, David L. "Artificial Intelligence." Artificial Intelligence. NEC Research Institute and the Computing Research Association, 1996. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.