Artificial intelligence Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science (9–1) revision
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In plain words
Artificial intelligence is about getting computers to do things that seem to need intelligence when people do them: recognising a face, diagnosing an illness, playing chess.
The syllabus looks at two kinds. An expert system follows rules that human experts have given it. A machine learning program improves by itself, from data.
5 things to know
- Artificial intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science dealing with the simulation of intelligent behaviours by computers.
- An AI has a collection of data and the rules for using that data. It has the ability to reason. It can include the ability to learn and adapt.
- An expert system has four parts. The knowledge base holds the facts. The rule base holds the rules that link the facts. The inference engine applies the rules to the facts to reach a conclusion. The interface is how the user enters information and sees the result.
- Expert systems are used for tasks such as medical diagnosis and finding faults in machines.
- Machine learning is when a program has the ability to automatically adapt its own processes or data. It gets better at a task through experience, without being reprogrammed.
Worked example
A doctor uses an expert system to help diagnose a patient. Describe how the system reaches a diagnosis.
- The doctor enters the patient's symptoms through the interface, answering the questions it asks.
- The inference engine takes the symptoms and searches the knowledge base, using the rules in the rule base.
- It finds the illnesses that match, and the interface displays the likely diagnoses.
Tips and tricks
- Knowledge base: facts. Rule base: rules. Inference engine: applies the rules to the facts. Interface: questions in, answers out. Learn the four.
- An expert system does not learn by itself. Its knowledge is given to it by human experts. A program that adapts itself is machine learning.
It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.
Artificial intelligence: 6 questions and answers
These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.
What is artificial intelligence?
It is a branch of computer science.
Which part of an expert system stores the facts?
The rules that link the facts are in the rule base.
Which part of an expert system applies the rules to the facts?
It does the reasoning.
What is machine learning?
It improves with experience.
Which is a characteristic of AI?
It uses a collection of data and rules, and can reason.
What is the purpose of the interface of an expert system?
It asks the questions and shows the answers.
Quiz
6 questions
Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.
Worksheet
2 questions, 6 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.
Artificial intelligence
Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science (9–1) 0984 · 6 marks · papermunch.org
Name ______________________________ Date ______________
Name the four components of an expert system and state the purpose of each.[4]
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The knowledge base stores the facts. The rule base stores the rules. The inference engine applies the rules to the facts to reach a conclusion. The interface lets the user enter information and see the result.
Describe what is meant by machine learning.[2]
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A program that can automatically adapt its own processes or data. It improves at a task from experience without being reprogrammed.
Answers: Artificial intelligence
- 1. The knowledge base stores the facts. The rule base stores the rules. The inference engine applies the rules to the facts to reach a conclusion. The interface lets the user enter information and see the result.
- 2. A program that can automatically adapt its own processes or data. It improves at a task from experience without being reprogrammed.