# Inference **Domain:** Logic / Statistics / Artificial Intelligence **Doc Type:** Canonical Concept Node **Maturity:** Foundational ## Definition **Inference** is the production of a conclusion or hypothesis from premises, observations, rules or learned relationships. ## Machine Context Inference may be deductive, probabilistic, abductive or model-based. A reasoning engine implements procedures; encoded knowledge and data determine what those procedures can meaningfully conclude. [[articles/The Evolutionary Roots of Silicon Valley|The Evolutionary Roots of Silicon Valley]] connects inference across fossil reconstruction, molecular history, expert systems and learned models. ## Governance Context An inference is not authority. Systems affecting rights must expose evidence, uncertainty, scope and the party responsible for acting on the result. ## See Also [[wiki/Scientific Inference|Scientific Inference]], [[wiki/Reasoning Engine|Reasoning Engine]], [[wiki/Encoded Domain Knowledge|Encoded Domain Knowledge]], [[wiki/Moral Accountability Layer|Moral Accountability Layer]]