AI Rule-Based vs Machine Learning Approach for Development

AI and machine learning are two of the most commonly misunderstood terms in business
today. They both have a lot to offer, but not all job functions are well suited for either AI or
machine learning development. Some jobs can be improved with rule-based AI while others
work better with machine learning algorithms. Deciding to choose either machine learning or AI
for your business can be a difficult one.

Rule-based AI is often used for smaller tasks while machine learning evolves as it does more
tasks. It's important to remember that rule-based AI and machine learning are not mutually
exclusive; rather they have different strengths and weaknesses in their applicability to various
types of applications. In this blog post, we will compare these two approaches so you can make
an informed decision about which type of artificial intelligence software would work best for
your company!

What is the Rule-based AI approach?

Rule-based AI is a computer science approach to developing intelligent systems that can be

divided into two types of subcategories: symbolic and connectionist. Symbolic AI uses rules
based on logic, while connectionist approaches use neural networks or other models that are
loosely inspired by biological processes. Rule-based AIs have been around since the 1960 s, and
throughout the decades they have been used for a variety of tasks. To make sense of large
amounts of data, organizations often employ rule-based AI that helps them find patterns and
trends from larger sets of information. One example is an antivirus program that scans for
known malicious code or files before they can affect your computer.

What is Machine learning?

Machine learning is a type of Artificial Intelligence that includes algorithms and processes to
automatically learn from data without any human input. It constantly learns as it accesses more
data over time, meaning the system can adapt to changing environments - like web pages or
images - and improve its performance in areas such as classification accuracy on unseen
materials, natural language processing for forms of communication with users, and even
customer service interactions. Machine learning approaches rely heavily on pattern recognition
techniques including artificial intelligence methods such as deep neural networks (DNN) and
support vector machines (SVM). These technologies can be particularly useful when there isn’t
an abundance of information about how something will work or the results. One example
would be Google’s DeepMind which was created to play Atari games at an expert level after
being trained only using random inputs.

Key Differentiators between Rule-based AI and Machine Learning models

Machine learning has many advantages over rule-based algorithms when dealing with more
complex data sets; however, both types have their own individual strengths that may make
them suitable depending on the situation:

1. Probabilistic and Deterministic Models

Rule-based AI models provide a deterministic output for every input, while machine learning
provides probabilistic outputs. In many cases, this may not be an issue; however, when working
with data that has characteristics such as multicollinearity and nonlinear relationships it is best
to use machine learning algorithms in order to apply more complex solutions. Rule-based AI
makes the assumption of linearity which does not account for these complexities.

2. Feedback Control

Machine Learning uses statistical analysis and estimation techniques to make predictions by
creating correlations between variables (i.e., inputs) and outcomes (i.e., target). Machine
Learning can also incorporate some level of feedback control from observed results which
improves its predictive ability over time through the use of a hypothesis test. Rule-based AI
does not have this ability to feedback control because its goal is to identify the best rule for
input and apply it in order to achieve specific outputs.

3. Project Scale

Rule-based AI is best suited for smaller projects and problems where the number of possible
solutions is limited. Machine Learning has a higher ceiling because it can be applied to any size
data set or problem space but requires more resources than rule-based AI (i.e., time, money).

4. Data requirements

Rule-based AI does not need a large data set and can operate with only a few examples.
Machine Learning requires more evidence to make accurate predictions because it is based on
statistical probabilities of events, so the larger the data set or database, the more accurate its
testing results will be.

5. Functional Programming Language

Rule-based AI is created using a functional programming language such as Lisp or Prolog, while
machine learning uses a procedural programming language. Though the syntax of these
languages is different, they use similar logic to solve problems and create predictions because
both rely on rules that dictate what will happen next in response to input data.

6. Processing Time
Machine Learning has an advantage over rule-based AI when it comes to processing time.
Algorithms can be developed more efficiently if there's room for error due to large amounts of
training data (i.e., noise). A small setup error could cause major consequences with Rule-Based
Algorithms but not Machine Learning.

7. Mutable and Immutable Data

Machine Learning algorithms are more efficient at using mutable data sets, while Rule-Based
Algorithms excel with immutable data. This means that Machine Learning is better suited for
real-time learning and can be applied to a wider range of applications in the Internet of Things
realm.

Conclusion

As you can see, both Machine Learning and Rule-Based Algorithms have advantages in different
fields. The key to finding the right solution is understanding what your business requirements
are. Machine Learning and Rule-Based Algorithms are not competitors—they both have
strengths in different fields. The best solution is one that fits your company’s needs.