Inference, particularly with large data sets, and disparate solution criteria, is one of the tougher challenges of current computing models. Probabilistic computing may unlock an alternative approach to tackling complex problems by enabling systems to infer solutions that lie outside the current linear computational models:
Probabilistic programming languages are in the spotlight. This is due to the announcement of a new DARPA program to support their fundamental research. But what is probabilistic programming? What can we expect from this research? Will this effort pay off? How long will it take?
A probabilistic programming language is a high-level language that makes it easy for a developer to define probability models and then “solve” these models automatically.
via What is probabilistic programming? – O’Reilly Radar.
Bonus: The video at the bottom of the linked blog post serves as an excellent overview of where this technology is headed
nitin badjatia 