Week/Topic 4: Symbolic Paradigm & Machine Learning

Question 1

Intelligence is…

Answer 1

The ability to work out, when confronted with a range of options, which option best matches given requirements and constraints.

Question 2

Problem Space is…

Answer 2

branching tree of achievable situations defined by potential application of operators to initial situation.

Question 3

Name 3 key characteristics in heuristic search

Answer 3

1. Guided Search.
2. Approximate Solutions.
3. Heuristic Search Algorithms.

Question 4

What is Guided Search?

Answer 4

Heuristic search uses heuristics to prioritize certain paths in the search space, making it more likely to find a solution quickly.

Question 5

How does approximating solutions help problem solving?

Answer 5

While not guaranteed to find the optimal solution, heuristics often provide good-enough solutions in a reasonable amount of time, making them practical for complex or time-constrained problems.

Question 6

Name 2 examples of Heuristic Search Algorithms, and define them…

Answer 6

1. A* (A-star) search: Uses a combination of path cost and a heuristic to estimate the cost to reach the goal, prioritizing paths that seem shortest or cheapest.
2. Greedy Best-First Search: Selects paths based solely on the heuristic, making quick progress toward the goal but without considering the accumulated cost.

Question 7

Define Heuristic Searching

Answer 7

a problem-solving approach used in artificial intelligence, computer science, and cognitive psychology that leverages heuristics to efficiently navigate large search spaces and find acceptable solutions more quickly than exhaustive methods.

Question 8

What does PSS stand for?

Answer 8

Physical symbol system (hypothesis).

Question 9

What capabilities does a Physical Symbol System have?

Answer 9

the necessary and sufficient means for
intelligent action.

Question 10

Define “necessity” in PSS?

Answer 10

Anything capable of intelligent action is a physical symbol system.

Question 11

Define “sufficiency” in PSS?

Answer 11

Any (sufficiently sophisticated) PSS is capable of intelligent action.

Question 12

What are the 4 fundamental ideas of PSS?

Answer 12

1. Symbols are physical patterns
2. Symbols can be combined to form
   complex symbol structures
3. The system contains processes for
   manipulating complex symbol
   structures
4. The processes for representing
   complex symbol structures can
   themselves be symbolically
   represented within the system