Samuel Onoja

MAT.no 21210591005
CSC 424 Assignment

Highlight the historical development of expert system

Expert systems have existed since the late 1960s and early
1970s, when the science of artificial intelligence (AI) first
emerged. Here are some significant milestones in the history of
expert systems:

Early Developments (1960s-1970s):

In the 1960s, researchers such as Edward Feigenbaum

and Joshua Lederberg started exploring the idea of using
computers to mimic human expertise and decision-making.
The DENDRAL system, the first expert system, at Stanford
University established by Edward Feigenbaum and his team in
1965, was one of the first effective expert systems. It focused on
chemical analysis and proved the potential of using rule-
based systems to solve complex problems.
In 1972, MYCIN, developed by Edward Shortliffe, was another
groundbreaking expert system. Its goal was to identify and
suggest therapies for bacterial infections, demonstrating the
practical application of expert systems in the medical arena.

Advancements and Commercialization (1980s-1990s):

Expert systems advanced significantly in the 1980s as more
powerful computers became available and AI approaches were
refined.
CLIPS (C Language Integrated Production System), an expert
system shell, was developed at NASA's Johnson Space Center in
1985 and serves as a powerful tool for developing rule-based
expert systems.
Expert systems achieved commercial success in the late 1980s
and early 1990s with the release of products such as IntelliCorp's
KEE and Inference Corporation's ART.

Knowledge Engineering and Rule-Based Systems:

Expert systems development today heavily relies on the

knowledge engineering process, which entails gathering,
organizing, and formalizing expert information.
Rule-based systems, in which knowledge is expressed as a
collection of rules, became well-liked because they are
transparent and simple to convey.

Evolution and Integration (2000s-Present):

With the development of AI methods like as machine learning and

natural language processing, expert systems developed to enable
more complex interaction and reasoning.
Integration with additional technologies, like knowledge graphs,
data analytics, and semantic reasoning, increased expert
systems' functionality and application.
The emergence of cloud computing and artificial intelligence
platforms made it easier to install and scale expert systems
across a range of sectors and domains.

Define an expert system

An expert system is a piece of software that replicates the

judgment of a human expert in a given topic using artificial
intelligence (AI). An excellent expert system is simple to use,
accurate, and quick to solve problems.

What is the relationship between ES and AI?

The broad category of technologies used to create intelligent
systems of all kinds is called artificial intelligence (AI). This
includes machine learning, natural language generation and
recognition, AI planning, AI search, knowledge representation,
and pretty much any other technology that has to do with
creating an intelligent system.
Artificial intelligence is a field which studies how to create or
develop a system that is capable of human's intelligence
behavior, like reasoning, planning, learning, etc. So, we can say
that a knowledge-based system (incl. expert system) is a branch
of artificial intelligence.

Expert systems are a sub field of AI that is focused on using

expert knowledge to encode the decisions that an expert would
make in the field. An expert system is designed to be able to
answer a problem like a human expert. For example, a tools to
help us diagnose a disease based on some input symptoms (here,
the tools is designed to be like a doctor - who is a human expert
in diagnosing diseases).
There have been many successful expert systems built and they
involve have a rules base and an inference engine that determine
what the result should be for a given problem. An example was an
expert system that provisioned DEC VAX computers to make sure
all the parts were consistent and work as a system.
List and explain the elements of expert systems
The expert system in artificial intelligence consists of the
following components:

 Knowledge acquisition subsystem

 Knowledge base
 Inference engine
 User interface
 Explanation subsystem

Knowledge Base: This is the repository of knowledge that the

expert system uses to make decisions or provide solutions. It
consists of facts, rules, and heuristics that are derived from
human experts in a specific domain. The knowledge base is
typically organized in a structured format for efficient retrieval
and reasoning.

Inference Engine: The inference engine is the reasoning

component of the expert system. It uses the knowledge base to
draw conclusions and make decisions based on the given input or
problem. The inference engine applies logical rules and
algorithms to process the information and generate appropriate
responses or solutions.

User Interface: The user interface allows users to interact with

the expert system. It provides a means for users to input their
problems or queries and receive responses or solutions from the
system. The user interface can be text-based, graphical, or a
combination of both, depending on the design and requirements
of the expert system.

Explanation Facility: An explanation facility is an important

element of an expert system that provides explanations for the
system's reasoning and decision-making process. It helps users
understand how the system arrived at a particular solution or
recommendation. The explanation facility can present the
underlying rules, facts, and reasoning steps used by the system
to support its conclusions.

Knowledge Acquisition System: The knowledge acquisition

system is responsible for acquiring and updating the knowledge
base of the expert system. It involves capturing knowledge from
human experts, organizing and structuring it, and integrating it
into the knowledge base. The knowledge acquisition system may
use various techniques such as interviews, documentation
analysis, and machine learning to gather and update the
knowledge.

Briefly state the role of individuals who interact with expert

system.
There are certain major roles of individuals who interact with the
expert system to fully exploit its functionality and capability. They
are the:

Domain expert: The individual or individuals whose expertise are

solving the problems the system is intended to solve.

Knowledge engineer: The individual who encodes the expert’s

knowledge in a form that can be used by the expert system.

User: The individual who will be consulting with the system to get
advice which would have been provided by the expert.

List the advantages and disadvantages of expert system

Advantages of the Expert system

1. Enhanced Output and Productivity.

2. Reduce the Decision-Making Time.
3. Enhance Process and Product Quality
4. Flexibility
5. Decrease the Downtime
6. Easier Equipment Operations
7. The Capture of Scarce Expertise
8. Removal of the Need for Expensive Equipment
9. Functioning in the Difficult Environment
10. Accessibility to Knowledge and Help Desks
11. Criteria of Training
12. Improves Decision-Making Process and Quality
13. High Level of Experience
14. Institutional Memory
15. Predictive Modelling Power

Disadvantages of Expert system

1. Requirement of Expert Engineers

2. Limited Domain and Vocabulary
3. Usually only covers a narrow range of knowledge
4. A lot of effort and cost has to go into making a good expert
system
5. Not as good as having human experts to hand.
6. Most expert systems are menu driven which does not deal
very well with ambiguous problems.
7. Advanced interfaces such as natural language processing
still has some way to go before they are truly effective.
8. Does not learn from mistakes unless user feedback and
human maintenance is part of its ongoing development
9. Unlikely to come up with creative solutions

State the features of expert system.

Knowledge Base: Contains domain-specific knowledge, including

facts and rules about the subject area.

User Interface: Allows users to interact with the expert system.

Explanation Facility: Provides users with explanations of the
reasoning process behind the system's conclusions.

Knowledge Acquisition Module: A component or tool that helps in

the gathering and updating of knowledge within the system.
Decision Support: Assists users in making decisions by providing
recommendations, predictions, or diagnostics based on the input
data and the knowledge base.

Domain Specificity: Expert systems are generally tailored to

specific fields or problems, ensuring that the knowledge is
relevant and applicable.

Reliability and Consistency: Capable of providing consistent

answers for the same inputs, which is crucial for trust in decision-
making processes.

Adaptability: Some expert systems can adapt to new information

or changes in the domain, allowing for updates in knowledge and
rules.

Performance Monitoring: Some systems can evaluate their own

performance and refine their decision-making processes over
time.