Software that knows the risks
Friday, January 16, 2015 - 15:30
in Mathematics & Economics
New planning algorithms developed by researchers can evaluate a probability of success, and suggest low-risk alternatives. For example, if you told your computer that you want to drive from your house in Boston to a hotel in upstate New York, that you want to stop for lunch at an Applebee's at about 12:30, and that you don't want the trip to take more than four hours. Just imagine if software could then tell you that you have only a 66 percent chance of meeting those criteria -- but that if you can wait until 1:00 for lunch, or if you're willing to eat at TGI Friday's instead, it can get that probability up to 99 percent.