Artificial intelligence in hard real-time — a new paradigm needed?

Abstract

This essay is to point out some of the basic differences between conventional and real-time applications of AI and to provoke discussion on whether or not a new paradigm would facilitate better understanding of these differences. Some of the listed differences are illustrated by examples from references. An attempt has been made to project existing AI methods onto the deduction-induction axis so as to find an analogy with human behaviour under hard real-time constraints, e.g. reflexes. The conclusion is that the developers of real-time AI methods might benefit by using a “reflex based” paradigm.