Differences and complements between AI and Annealing Machines
Overview
Both machine learning, which is often used in AI, and annealing machines, which perform combinatorial optimization, are computers that perform difficult processing on behalf of humans. What are the differences between the two? Actually, there is a crucial difference. While machine learning infers the optimal choice from accumulated experience, an annealing machine makes the optimal combinatorial choice in the current situation based on a set of defined rules.
What AI can do
What AI can do is learn from past data and infer situations from that data. For example, what kind of processing would take place if we were to use AI to create work shifts? Based on the data accumulated in the past, the AI would infer this kind of work style would be better for person A, and that kind of work style would be better for person B, and then decide on the shifts.
When you need to consider various patterns, you need the AI to use the appropriate historical data to learn.
What an annealing machine can do
In contrast, what an annealing machine can do is to determine the optimal combination of parameters to the given situation. For example, it will create a shift that is considered optimal for person A, who has these wishes, and person B, who has those wishes, as well as the work rules and circumstances at that workplace.
Everything that needs to be considered should be defined.
Difference between AI and Annealing Machines
As noted above, annealing needs to consider all the conditions and constraints that should be there and define them as cost functions or constraints. AI does not need to define conditions and constraints, but it does need to learn all the situations it wants to consider.
For example, suppose you need to create a shift for someone who has never taken paid vacation on a Tuesday before. With an annealing machine, you can create a shift by defining that the person will take paid vacation pay on Tuesdays, and it will take that into account. In contrast, an AI cannot learn to put a person on a shift with paid vacation on a Tuesday that the person has no experience with, so adjustments and innovations are required.
Combining AI and annealing machines
Let us assume that we need to set up a shift; it is possible to know empirically how many people are needed at any given time, so you can use AI to predict the number of staff needed. On the other hand, you can use an annealing machine to create shifts which consider the precisely defined individual circumstances of the workers.
By combining AI and annealing machines, it is possible to create shifts with each person's preferences in accordance with the expectations of how many people should work based on previous experience.
As described above, there are significant differences between AI and annealing machines. By understanding the differences, they can be effective when used in combination.
Conclusion
- AI learns from experience, infers, and decides what to do next. It can compute desired outcomes based on experience. On the other hand, it may not be able to take into account events for which it has no experience.
- Annealing machines can compute the desired results within those conditions; however, they need to predefine conditions and constraints.
- Understanding the differences between AI and annealing machines will help to take advantage of their features. Combined utilization will compensate for each other's shortcomings and lead to the creation of new value.
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