Inference Engine

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What Does Inference Engine Mean?

An inference engine is a tool used to make logical deductions about knowledge assets. Experts often talk about the inference engine as a component of a knowledge base. Inference engines are useful in working with all sorts of information, for example, to enhance business intelligence.

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Techopedia Explains Inference Engine

Experts point out that an inference engine is different than a rules engine, which is essentially a system to execute business rules. An inference engine is often a component of a knowledge base – combined with the knowledge base, the inference engine helps stakeholders to get those logical insights from the storehouse of information at their disposal. Various vendors offer inference engine functionality for getting actionable insights for marketing and business data. Bigger companies like Microsoft also offer their own inference engine tools.

For example, an inference engine may take certain facts from a knowledge base, maybe facts about where customers are located, what products customers have bought, or what transactions have taken place, and “infer” certain logical conclusions.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert

Margaret é uma premiada redatora e professora conhecida por sua habilidade de explicar assuntos técnicos complexos para um público empresarial não técnico. Nos últimos vinte anos, suas definições de TI foram publicadas pela Que em uma enciclopédia de termos tecnológicos e citadas em artigos do New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine e Discovery Magazine. Ela ingressou na Techopedia em 2011. A ideia de Margaret de um dia divertido é ajudar os profissionais de TI e de negócios a aprenderem a falar os idiomas altamente especializados uns dos outros.