holland@GMR.CSNET (Steve Holland) (03/04/86)
Seminar at General Motors Research Laboratories, Warren, Michigan:
Belief Functions in Artificial Intelligence
Prof. Glenn Shafer
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas 66045
Thursday, March 6, 1986
ABSTRACT
The theory of belief functions, or the Dempster-Shafer theory, has
attracted wide interest as a tool for the management of uncertainty in
artificial intelligence.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of belief functions when they are
compared with numerical alternatives such as Bayesian probability and fuzzy
logic or with non-numerical alternatives such as default logic and the
calculus of endorsements? What are the current prospects for sensible use
of belief functions in expert systems?
In this talk, I will offer some general judgments on these questions. I
will emphasize the need for interactive tools for the construction of
probability arguments, and I will speculate on long-term possibilities for
probability judgment using man-made associateve memories.
-Steve Holland, Computer Science Department