Explanation-Based Learning

When an agent can utilize a worked example of a problem as a problem-solving method, the agent is said to have the capability of explanation-based learning (EBL). This is a type of analytic learning. The advantage of explanation-based learning is that, as a deductive mechanism, it requires only a single training example ( inductive learning methods often require many training examples). However, to utilize just a single example most EBL algorithms require all of the following:

From the training example, the EBL algorithm computes a generalization of the example that is consistent with the goal concept and that meets the operationality criteria (a description of the appropriate form of the final concept). One criticism of EBL is that the required domain theory needs to be complete and consistent. Additionally, the utility of learned information is an issue when learning proceeds indiscriminately. Other forms of learning that are based on EBL are knowledge compilation, caching and macro-ops.

Architectures having this capability include:


Go to A List of Common Capabilities.

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