What kind of algorithm is behind the Akinator game?

Question

It always amazed me how the Akinator app could guess a character by asking just several questions. So I wonder what kind of algorithm or method let it do that? Is there a name for that class of algorithms and where can I read more about them?

Answer 1

As for how the program works, according to the site's Frequently Asked Questions section, "Akinator uses the program Limule published by Elokence.com. The algorithm we use is an original creation. How we created it is our little secret."

There doesn't appear to be much more information available about just how the program uses Limule to make the program work so effectively.

Yes, there is a name for these classes of algorithms known as the classification algorithms in the field of machine learning. 

In the classification problem, the algorithm has features that can answer the questions.

Deciding which question should be asked next can be done in various ways - for example by trying to maximize the predicted (or mean) entropy from the next question.

Answer 2

Yes, there is a name for these classes of algorithms - it is called classification algorithms in the field of machine learning. Decision trees are one example of a classification algorithm.

Hope this answer helps you!