The Role of Learning in Problem-Solving

At the core of AI is machine learning. It may seem strange that scientists use programs that learn as a tool to solve chemical problems machine learning is more often associated with the development of intelligent robots than with the solution of problems in the physical sciences. However its methods have potential far beyond robotics. 

Just how does learning help in the solution of optimisation problems Let us consider an example which, while it is conceptually a very simple task, does indicate why knowing a bit about how a search has gone in the past can help us to make better decisions in the future. 

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