The Fourth International Workshop on Artificial Intelligence in Economics and Management

The Fourth International Workshop on Artificial Intelligence in Economics and Management was held in Tel-Aviv, Israel, from 8 to 10 January 1996. This article discusses the main themes presented at the workshop, including the need for multiple methods in any system designed to solve real-world problems, the differences in the effectiveness of AI versus classic analytic techniques, and the use of AI techniques to customize products. The main themes that emerged during the workshop were (1) the need to use multiple methods in any system designed to solve major realworld problems, (2) a continuing interest in comparing the effectiveness of AI solutions with classic analytic techniques, and (3) a growing use of AI techniques to customize products to suit individual consumers. As a matter of course, almost every presentation at the workshop touched on AI techniques in one way or another. However, a group of papers at the workshop had AI techniques as their main focus.