Expert System /ˈɛk.spɜːt ˈsɪs.təm/ noun — In the field of artificial intelligence, an expert system is a computer program designed to simulate the decision-making ability of a human expert in a specific domain. It operates by applying a set of predefined rules and logic to a knowledge base—a structured collection of facts and heuristics about a particular subject area.
Expert systems typically consist of three core components:
- Knowledge Base – stores facts and domain-specific expertise
- Inference Engine – applies logical rules to derive conclusions or make decisions
- User Interface – enables interaction between the system and the end-user
These systems were among the earliest successful applications of AI, used in fields like medical diagnosis, engineering troubleshooting, financial forecasting, and legal analysis. While less common today due to the rise of machine learning models, expert systems remain valuable in scenarios requiring explainable, rule-based reasoning.
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