heuristics in Artificial Intelligence

In Artificial Intelligence, heuristics are practical methods or rules of thumb used to solve problems more efficiently than traditional algorithms. They provide "good enough" solutions quickly, especially when dealing with complex or large problems where exact answers are difficult or time-consuming to find. Think of heuristics as experienced judgment that guides decision-making, helping AI systems make reasonable choices without exhaustive searches. While they may not guarantee the perfect solution, heuristics significantly speed up problem-solving processes and are widely used in tasks like navigation, game playing, and optimization.