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Blackboard system

Visual diagram · (in preparation) · Math · (in preparation) · Worked example · 3 difficulty levels.

TL;DR. An AI architecture where multiple specialized agents cooperate by updating a shared knowledge base.

Technical Definition

An AI architecture where multiple specialized agents cooperate by updating a shared knowledge base.

How it works

A blackboard system is an AI architecture that facilitates problem-solving by multiple, independent expert modules (knowledge sources) that communicate indirectly through a shared data structure called a 'blackboard'. These knowledge sources work collaboratively to incrementally build a solution to a complex problem.

Related Concepts

  • Expert system — AI programs that mimic the decision-making ability of a human expert using a knowledge base and inference rules.
  • Knowledge-based system (KBS) — A knowledge-based system (KBS) is a program that uses a knowledge base and an inference engine to solve complex problems by reasoning.

Further Reading

  • Wikipedia — Glossary of AI