An expert system and a method of providing automated advice are described.
The system is regularly updated by advice (or diagnosis, recommendation
etc.) given by practitioners in the relevant field. The combination of the
underlying facts and the consequent (human) advice is used to update a
ruleset that is then used to provide automated advice.
An example of financial advice is given. A database contains the details
for the customers of a financial institution together with advice and
recommendations given previously by the institution's human advisors. This
database is used to derive a ruleset which is then applied to a subsequent
customer's details in an automated manner, possibly at the user's own PC
via the World Wide Web. Frequent updating using data from the human
advisors' work means that the database (and hence the ruleset) are kept up
to date. Consistent advice can thus be provided with minimum human
interaction.
