The combination of different intelligent methods is a very active research area in Artificial Intelligence (AI). The aim is to create integrated or hybrid methods that benefit from each of their components. It is generally believed that complex problems can be easier solved with such integrated or hybrid methods. Some of the existing efforts combine what are called soft computing methods (fuzzy logic, neural networks and genetic algorithms) either among themselves or with more traditional AI methods such as logic and rules. Another stream of efforts integrates case-based reasoning with soft-computing and more traditional AI or machine learning methods. Yet another integrates logic-based agent approaches with non-symbolic approaches. Some of the combinations have been quite important and more extensively used, like neuro-symbolic methods, neuro-fuzzy methods and methods combining rule-based and case-based reasoning. However, there are other combinations that are still under investigation, such as those related to natural language processing and the Semantic Web. In some cases, combinations are driven by theoretical aspects, but usually they are created in the context of specific applications.

The Workshop is intended to become a forum for exchanging experience and ideas among researchers and practitioners who are dealing with combining intelligent methods either based on first principles or in the context of specific applications.

More information about the workshop can be found here.