Answers.Body: <p>Yes, it is possible to combine probabilistic / bayesian reasoning and a traditional "knowledgebase".  And some work along those lines has been done.  See, for example, <a href="https://dtai.cs.kuleuven.be/problog/">ProbLog</a> ("Probabilistic Prolog") which combines logic programming and probabilistic elements.  See:  </p>
  
  <p><a href="https://dtai.cs.kuleuven.be/problog/tutorial/mpe/01_bn.html">https://dtai.cs.kuleuven.be/problog/tutorial/mpe/01_bn.html</a></p>
  
  <p>Another project to look at is <a href="http://www.pr-owl.org/">Pr-OWL</a>
   ("Probabilistic OWL") which adds Bayesian reasoning to the Semantic Web stack.</p>
  
  <p>Of course neither of these deals <em>specifically</em> with QA systems, but both represent some work on at least the foundational aspect of combining traditional logic and/or ontologies, with probabilistic approaches.  Building a QA system on top of that is an exercise for the reader...</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2017-01-09T18:46:36.490Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2017-01-09T18:46:36.490Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: mindcrime
Body: <p>I've been struggling with the connection between knowledge-based AI systems and Bayesian inference for a while now. While I continue to sweep through the literature, I would be happy if someone can answer these more specific questions directly</p>
  <ol>
  <li><p>Are Bayesian inference based methods used in reasoning or Q/A systems -- to arrive at conclusions about questions whose answers are not directly present in the knowledge base?</p>
  </li>
  <li><p>In other words, if a Q/A system doesn't find an answer in a knowledge base, can it use Bayesian inference to use the available facts to suggest answers with varying likelihoods?</p>
  </li>
  <li><p>If yes, could you point me to some implementations?</p>
  </li>
  </ol>
  
Tags: <reference-request><question-answering><reasoning><bayesian-inference><knowledge-based-systems>
Title: Can Bayesian inference be combined with knowledge-based systems?
UserDisplayName: PintoUbuntu
ThreadText: # Can Bayesian inference be combined with knowledge-based systems?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2017-01-08)
  
  I've been struggling with the connection between knowledge-based AI systems and Bayesian inference for a while now. While I continue to sweep through the literature, I would be happy if someone can answer these more specific questions directly
  
  1. Are Bayesian inference based methods used in reasoning or Q/A systems -- to arrive at conclusions about questions whose answers are not directly present in the knowledge base?
  2. In other words, if a Q/A system doesn't find an answer in a knowledge base, can it use Bayesian inference to use the available facts to suggest answers with varying likelihoods?
  3. If yes, could you point me to some implementations?
  
  **Tags:** reference-request, question-answering, reasoning, bayesian-inference, knowledge-based-systems
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2017-01-09. Score: 7 | Accepted answer
  
  Yes, it is possible to combine probabilistic / bayesian reasoning and a traditional "knowledgebase". And some work along those lines has been done. See, for example, [ProbLog](https://dtai.cs.kuleuven.be/problog/) ("Probabilistic Prolog") which combines logic programming and probabilistic elements. See:
  
  <https://dtai.cs.kuleuven.be/problog/tutorial/mpe/01_bn.html>
  
  Another project to look at is [Pr-OWL](http://www.pr-owl.org/)
  ("Probabilistic OWL") which adds Bayesian reasoning to the Semantic Web stack.
  
  Of course neither of these deals *specifically* with QA systems, but both represent some work on at least the foundational aspect of combining traditional logic and/or ontologies, with probabilistic approaches. Building a QA system on top of that is an exercise for the reader...
  
  
  ---
  
  