Opportunistic reasoning is a method of selecting a suitable
logical inference
Inferences are steps in reasoning, moving from premises to logical consequences; etymologically, the word ''wikt:infer, infer'' means to "carry forward". Inference is theoretically traditionally divided into deductive reasoning, deduction and in ...
strategy within
artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is intelligence—perceiving, synthesizing, and inferring information—demonstrated by machines, as opposed to intelligence displayed by animals and humans. Example tasks in which this is done include speech r ...
applications.
Specific
reasoning methods may be used to draw
conclusions from a set of given facts in a
knowledge base
A knowledge base (KB) is a technology used to store complex structured and unstructured information used by a computer system. The initial use of the term was in connection with expert systems, which were the first knowledge-based systems. ...
, e.g.
forward chaining
Forward chaining (or forward reasoning) is one of the two main methods of reasoning when using an inference engine and can be described logically as repeated application of ''modus ponens''. Forward chaining is a popular implementation strategy ...
versus
backward chaining. However, in opportunistic reasoning, pieces of knowledge may be applied either forward or backward, at the "most opportune time".
An opportunistic reasoning system may combine elements of both forward and backward reasoning. It is useful when the number of possible inferences is very large and the reasoning system must be responsive to new data that may become known.
Opportunistic reasoning has been used in applications such as
blackboard system
A blackboard system is an artificial intelligence approach based on the blackboard architectural model, where a common knowledge base, the "blackboard", is iteratively updated by a diverse group of specialist knowledge sources, starting with a pro ...
s and medical applications.
[Roy Turner, "Opportunistic use of schemata" in ''Tenth Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society'' 1988 page 165]
References
* Marin D. Simina et al. "Opportunistic Reasoning: A Design Perspective" in ''Proceedings of the Seventeenth Annual Conference of Cognitive Science'' edited by Johanna D. Moore, 1995 , page 78
Notes
Automated reasoning
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