ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Expert systems

An expert system is a type of computer program or software that can understand and solve problems just like an expert in a particular field. Imagine that you have a very smart friend who knows a lot about a subject, like how to fix a car or bake cookies. If you had a problem with your car or needed to bake cookies, you could ask your friend for help, and they would give you advice on how to solve your problem. An expert system works in a similar way, but instead of a human friend, it uses a computer program.

When you use an expert system, you input information about your problem into the program. The program then uses this information to analyze and evaluate the problem, using its knowledge of the subject to provide advice and recommendations on how to solve the problem. Just like your smart friend, the expert system can give you step-by-step instructions, tell you what tools you need, and offer suggestions on the best way to proceed.

Expert systems are used in many different fields, such as medicine, finance, and engineering. For example, a medical expert system can help doctors diagnose diseases and develop treatment plans based on patient symptoms and medical history. A finance expert system can help investors make decisions about buying and selling stocks and other financial products. And an engineering expert system can help engineers design and build complex machines and systems.

In summary, an expert system is a computer program that uses its knowledge of a subject to solve problems and provide advice and recommendations, just like a smart friend would. It is a powerful tool that can help people in many different fields make better decisions and solve complex problems.