what is heuristic function in ai

What is a heuristic function and its importance in artificial intelligence?

The heuristic function is considered to play a vital role in problem solving in artificial intelligence (AI). Whenever we encounter a problem with a large number of possible solutions, the heuristic function suggests shortcuts for the AI, i.e., a way to find a good solution in less time. If you want to know "what is a heuristic function in AI?", simply put, it is a mathematical function or formula that evaluates the quality of any state or situation and indicates how close it is to the solution.

The heuristic function is often used in efficient search algorithms (such as A*, Best First Search, etc.). Its main function is to reduce the search space and increase the speed of finding a solution. For example, in games like chess or tic-tac-toe, a machine estimates which moves will bring it closer to victory; this estimation is derived from a heuristic function.

Advantages of the heuristic function

• It helps to assess which position is more advantageous.
• It enables the solution to the problem to be found quickly.
• It makes the AI ​​system more intelligent and practical.

Heuristics should be selected based on the problem at hand to ensure reliable results. To learn more, you can read Wikipedia - Heuristic (computer science).

Tip:

If you want to create your own heuristic function for AI, first understand the problem thoroughly and then determine a formula that can quickly identify positions close to the solution—for example, counting the remaining incorrect positions in puzzle games.