Problem-solving is commonly known as the method to reach the desired goal or find a solution to a given situation. In computer science, problem-solving refers to artificial intelligence techniques, including various techniques such as forming efficient algorithms, heuristics, and performing root cause analysis to find desirable solutions. Problem-solving in Artificial Intelligence usually refers to researching a solution to a problem by performing logical algorithms, utilizing polynomial and differential equations, and executing them using modeling paradigms. There can be various solutions to a single problem, which are achieved by different heuristics. Also, some problems have unique solutions. It all rests on the nature of the given problem.
Table of contents:
- Examples of Problems in Artificial Intelligence
- What is a Reflex Agent?
- Problem Solving Techniques
- Heuristics
- Searching Algorithms
- Types of Uninformed Searching Algorithms
- Evolutionary Computation
- Genetic Algorithms
- Applications of AI in Real World
- Why Problem Solving is Important in AI?
- Problem formulation in AI
- Problem-solving agents in artificial intelligence
- Steps of problem solving in AI
- AI methods of problem solving
Examples of Problems in Artificial Intelligence
Developers worldwide are using artificial intelligence to automate systems for efficient utilization of time and resources. Some of the most common problems encountered in day-to-day life are games and puzzles. These can be solved efficiently by using artificial intelligence algorithms. Ranging from mathematical puzzles including crypto-arithmetic and magic squares, logical puzzles including Boolean formulas and N-Queens to popular games like Sudoku and Chess, these problem-solving techniques are used to form a solution for all these. Therefore, some of the most prevalent problems that artificial intelligence has resolved are the following:
- Chess
- N-Queen problem
- Tower of Hanoi Problem
- Travelling Salesman Problem
- Water-Jug Problem
What is a Reflex Agent?
There are five primary agents used in Artificial Intelligence based on their capability of perceiving intelligence. These agents are the following:
- Simple Reflex Agents
- Model-Based Reflex Agents
- Goal-Based Agents
- Utility-Based Agents
- Learning Agents
These agents prove helpful in the mapping of states and actions. While solving a complex problem, these agents often fail to comprehend the next step adequately; thus, problem-solving agents solve such scenarios. These agents use techniques like B-tree and heuristic algorithms to solve problems using artificial intelligence.
Problem Solving Techniques
Artificial Intelligence is beneficial for solving complex problems due to its efficient methods of solving. Following are some of the standard problem-solving techniques used in AI. You can explore about other problem-solving techniques apart from searching.
Heuristics
The heuristic method helps comprehend a problem and devises a solution based purely on experiments and trial and error methods. However, these heuristics do not often provide the best optimal solution to a specific problem. Instead, these undoubtedly offer efficient solutions to attain immediate goals. Therefore, the developers utilize these when classic methods do not provide an efficient solution for the problem. Since heuristics only provide time-efficient solutions and compromise accuracy, these are combined with optimization algorithms to improve efficiency.
Example: Travelling Salesman Problem
The most common example of using heuristic is the Travelling Salesman problem. There is a provided list of cities and their distances. The user has to find the optimal route for the Salesman to return to the starting city after visiting every city on the list. The greedy algorithms solve this NP-Hard problem by finding the optimal solution. According to this heuristic, picking the best next step in every current city provides the best solution.
Searching Algorithms
Searching is one of the primary methods of solving any problem in AI. Rational agents or problem-solving agents use these searching algorithms to find optimal solutions. These problem-solving agents are often goal-based and utilize atomic representation. Moreover, these searching algorithms possess completeness, optimality, time complexity, and space complexity properties based on the quality of the solution provided by them.
Types of Searching Algorithms
There are following two main types of searching algorithms:
- Informed Search
- Uninformed Search
Informed Search
These algorithms use basic domain knowledge and comprehend available information regarding a specified problem as a guideline for optimal solutions. The solutions provided by informed search algorithms are more efficient than uninformed search algorithms.
Types of informed Search Algorithms
There are following main two types of informed search algorithms:
- Greedy Search
- A * Search
Uninformed Search
These algorithms do not have the privilege of using basic domain knowledge, such as the desired goal’s closeness. It contains information regarding traversing a tree and identifying leaf and goal nodes. Uninformed search also goes by the name of blind search because while traversing, there is no specific information about the initial state and test for the goal. This search goes through every node till reaching the desired destination.
Types of Uninformed Searching Algorithms
There are the following main five types of uninformed search algorithms:
- Breadth-First Search
- Depth First Search
- Uniform Cost Search
- Iterative Deepening Depth First Search
- Bidirectional Search
Evolutionary Computation
This problem-solving method utilizes the well-known evolution concept. The theory of evolution works on the principle of survival of the fittest. It states that the organism which can cope well with their environment in a challenging or changing environment and reproduce, their future generations gradually inherit the coping mechanism, generating the diversity in new child organisms. In this way, the new organisms are not mere copies of the old ones but have the mixes of characteristics that go along with that harsh environment. Humans are the most prominent example of the evolution process that has evolved and diversified because of the accumulation of favorable mutations over countless generations.
In AI, the evolution concept refers to the trial and error technique:
- Randomly change the old solution to come up with the new one. Does it give better results? If yes, then keep and throw away the rest of the solutions. If not, then discard it.
- Go to point 1.
Genetic Algorithms
The evolution theory is the basis of genetic algorithms. These algorithms use the direct random search method. The developers calculate the fit function to cross the two fittest options to create a favorable child. The developers gather the population data and then evaluate each member to calculate everyone’s fitness. It is estimated by how well each member fits with the desired requirement. Then the developers use various selection methods to keep the best members. Some of the ways are the following:
- Rank Selection
- Tournament Selection
- Steady Selection
- Roulette Wheel Selection (Fitness Proportionate Selection)
- Elitism
Although genetic algorithms do not always work best, they do not break easily, and the inputs change slightly. The developers commonly use genetic algorithms to generate a high-level solution to optimization and search problems by relying on bio-inspired operations such as mutation, crossover, and selection.
The problem-solving techniques help in improving the performance of programs. The AI-based searching algorithms provide high precision and maximum accuracy to results. These algorithms are faster than others in execution and offer multiple searching methods depending upon the problem faced. Implementing heuristics allows the devising to conceptually more straightforward algorithms with cheaper computational costs compared to using optimal algorithms. Evolutionary computations also help in optimization and search problems. Overall, these techniques are the basis for solving high-level problems in AI such as chess algorithms, and hill-climbing problems.
Applications of AI in Real World
Healthcare
One of the most critical advantages of AI is its ability to sift through large quantities of data in a limited period. These assist researchers in identifying areas of focus for their studies. A recent ground-breaking breakthrough on the condition of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) was made thanks to a collaboration between Barrow Neurological Institute and IBM Watson Health, an artificial intelligence firm. IBM Watson, an artificial intelligence computer, studied tens of thousands of research papers and identified new genes related to ALS.
The finding provides ALS researchers with new knowledge to create new drug targets and treatments to fight one of the world’s most deadly diseases.
Another promising application of AI in healthcare is its ability to predict drug treatment results. For example, cancer patients are often given the same medication and monitored to see if it is successful. AI uses data to predict which patients would benefit from a specific medication, resulting in a highly customized approach that saves time and money.
Transforming Learning Process
Students at Georgia Tech University in the United States were shocked to learn that their supportive teaching assistant had been a robot all along. Following some teething issues, the robot began answering students’ questions with 97 percent accuracy.
After conducting studies, the university discovered that one of the leading causes of student dropout is a lack of support.
People learn in various ways, at different speeds, and from different locations. Artificial intelligence can usher in a world in which humans learn in a far more personalized manner. However, no educational system can afford a tutor for every student that AI might help. Artificial tutors, designed to look and sound as human as possible, may lead the way in providing individualized education.
Helping Wildlife
The ability to analyze massive data, much like in healthcare, may help change wildlife conservation. Humans can see where animals go and what habitats need to preserve by monitoring their movements, for example. This research uses computer power to determine Montana’s best locations for creating wildlife corridors for wolverines and grizzly bears. Wildlife corridors are long stretches of protected land that connect biologically significant regions, allowing animals to travel safely through the wilderness.
Self-Driving
Given the high-profile crashes involving self-driving cars this year, AI in this area has the potential to reduce fatalities and injuries on the highways significantly.
According to a Private University study, self-driving cars would not only minimize traffic-related deaths and injuries, but they may also change lifestyles. AI may have more time to work or entertain and may have more options for where humans base themselves. Per the report, Self-driving cars and shared transportation can influence where people choose to live due to increased comfort and reduced cognitive load.
Why Problem Solving is Important in AI?
Decoding any type of problem needs specific organized measures to be observed. Identical is the matter of solving issues by AI. The following are the details:
- Goal –In this phase as soon as a crisis appears, the AI agent puts a goal or a mark. This needs the agent to thoroughly examine and clarify the issue. This is a vital action as if the goal for the issue is poorly developed then all the actions carried out to achieve the goal would be useless.
- Problem Description–This is one major stage of problem-solving. Whenever a problem occurs, then the agent chooses what measures must be carried out to run to the developed goal. This is accomplished in the subsequent actions:
- Describing the State–A state area can be described as a group of all the accurate conditions in which an agent can be joined when discovering a key to the crisis.
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- Specifying Primary State–For an agent to begin cracking the issue, it must begin from a state. The primary state from where the agent begins performing is directed to the primary state.
- Collect Details–Now the agent collects data and utilizes the data needed by it to fix the issue. These details will be collected with one-time incidents as well as present pieces of knowledge.
- Designing the Changes–Some issues are undersized and so these can be deciphered efficiently. But most of the time issues will be such where sound planning and implementation are required. Hence this needs appropriate data structures and managing processes well in advance.
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Problem Formulation in AI
It is one of the basic stages of problem-solving that determines what measure should be brought to fulfill the developed goal. Problem formulation is the stage in problem description that is utilized to comprehend and choose a course of activity that must be evaluated to reach a goal. If there is more than one method an agent can attain its objective, then it generates intricacy in terms of truly reaching the goal as there would be too numerous measures and courses that the AI entity can carry to achieve the goal that it induces chaos and a tremendous decline in the efficiency. Problem formulation can be accomplished in many stages such as the description of the initial condition of the agent, choosing probable steps that the agent can bear, and design of transition standards to define the efforts of the agent.
Problem-solving agents in artificial intelligence
Here the issue is split into sub-issues. The effects of the different measures carried out in cracking the last sub-problem are delivered to the following subproblem and the integrated outcome of the subproblems ushers to the definitive solution. This needs appropriate planning and implementation of changes.
- Testing with the Goal State–In this phase, the outcomes generated from the agent are analogized with that of the objective state. If the goal has been achieved, then the agents block any additional activities and the issue arrives at the final state. But if the goal is not achieved then the agent persists to discover activities to run to the goal.
- Estimating the Expense of Path carried–Whenever an agent carries a course to decipher a situation it permits a numeric value (or price) to that course. These prices are then estimated by utilizing a price function. The estimated consequence is hence employed in the agent’s implementation action. The solution which is achieved with the minimum or most subordinate price of the path is called the perfect solution.
Steps of problem solving in AI
Performance benchmark is one of the vital things in AI problem solving which determines the value of the algorithm utilized to fix the issue. There are four methods in which the execution of an algorithm is calculated. These are as follows:
- Totality – Totality calculates the algorithm’s assurance to discover the solution for the issue if there is any solution for it.
- Optimality – This step is utilized to calculate the tracking methods which discover an optimal solution to the presented issue.
- Duration Complexity – This calculates the portion of time the algorithm abides to run till the key for the assigned issue.
- Space Intricacy – This is the standard that is employed to specify the quantity of area (in memory) that the algorithm needs to execute the quest.
AI methods of problem solving
Based on the kind of problem, various agents utilize various methods like trees, heuristics, b-trees, etc mentioned above to achieve the goal of the problem. Basically, the steps involved are:
- Goal Formulation
- Problem
- Testing
Problem-solving in AI is prevalent day by day. Computer researchers are utilizing Artificial Intelligence to automate their jobs in day-to-day practice to preserve their actions and duration. Games and riddles are real-time models of a current situation. These can be fixed by utilizing the most practical AI algorithms. Mathematical riddles such as magic squares and crypto arithmetic are being utilized in the most widespread competitions such as Chess. Problem-solving in AI is being utilized to embark on these all issues and make their solutions most efficacious.
Artificial Intelligence is helping developers in creating perfect software and design the software as per the conditions. The dead-end issues are also can be decrypted now with the service of Artificial Intelligence algorithms. In problem-solving AI utilize some of the agents. Various agents assist to specify movements and conditions. But they usually become ineffective when it comes to decrypting difficult issues of the real world.
Based on the issue and their functioning environment, various kinds of problem-solving agents are described and utilized at an atomic class without any inner condition perceptible with a problem-solving algorithm. The problem-solving agent functions specifically by determining issues and various solutions. So we can express that problem solving is a piece of artificial intelligence that contains several methods such as a tree, B-tree, and heuristic algorithms to fix an issue.
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