About Lesson
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Fuzzy Logic:
- Fuzzy logic, developed by Lotfi Zadeh in the 1960s, aimed to handle imprecise and uncertain information. It allows for gradual membership in categories (e.g., “very hot” or “somewhat cold”) rather than strict binary distinctions.
- Fuzzy logic was widely used in control systems (like washing machines) where precise rules were hard to define. For instance, adjusting the washing time based on the degree of dirtiness.
- Despite its practical applications, fuzzy logic didn’t become the dominant paradigm due to limitations in handling complex uncertainty.
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Probability Theory:
- Probability theory, rooted in mathematics and statistics, emerged as the most effective approach for reasoning under uncertainty.
- Bayesian probability, named after Thomas Bayes, plays a crucial role. It allows us to update our beliefs based on new evidence.
- In AI, probabilistic models like Bayesian networks, Hidden Markov Models (HMMs), and Markov Decision Processes (MDPs) became popular.
- Probabilistic reasoning enables handling uncertainty in various domains, from medical diagnosis to natural language processing.
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Machine Learning and Probabilistic Models:
- Machine learning algorithms, such as Naive Bayes, logistic regression, and Gaussian processes, rely on probability distributions.
- Bayesian inference helps estimate model parameters and make predictions.
- Probabilistic graphical models (PGMs) combine probability theory with graph theory, allowing efficient representation and inference.
- PGMs include Bayesian networks (directed graphs) and Markov networks (undirected graphs).
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Current Trends:
- Deep learning, while deterministic, often incorporates probabilistic components. Variational autoencoders (VAEs) and Bayesian neural networks (BNNs) introduce uncertainty estimates.
- Reinforcement learning (RL) uses Markov decision processes to optimize actions in uncertain environments.
- Uncertainty quantification (UQ) is gaining importance, especially in safety-critical applications like autonomous vehicles.
Probability theory has prevailed due to its solid mathematical foundation and practical effectiveness. It underpins much of modern AI, allowing us to reason about uncertainty and make informed decisions.
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