Preface

This book is about AI, particularly what is known as Weak AI, or the methods and techniques that can help make software smarter and more useful. While early AI concentrated on building intelligent machines that mimicked human behavior ( otherwise known as Strong AI), much of AI research and practice today concentrates on goals that are more practical. These include embedding AI algorithms and techniques into software to provide them with the ability to learn, optimize, and reason.

The focus of this book is to illustrate a number of AI algorithms, and provide detailed explanations of their inner workings. Some of the algorithms and methods included are neural networks, genetic algorithms, forward-chaining rules-systems, fuzzy logic, ant algorithms, and intelligent agents . Additionally, sample applications are provided for each algorithm, some very practical in nature, others more theoretical. My goal in writing this book was to demystify some of the more interesting AI algorithms so that a wider audience can use them. It's my hope that through the detailed discussions of the algorithms in this book, AI methods and techniques can find their way into more traditional software domains. Only when AI is applied in practice can it truly growmy desire is that this book helps developers apply AI techniques to make better and smarter software. I can be reached at <[e-mail].>