Which component of an expert system is responsible for processing information?

The inference engine is the component of an expert system that processes information. It applies logical rules to the knowledge base to deduce new information or make decisions based on the data provided. Essentially, this component acts as the system's reasoning mechanism, using the knowledge stored in the knowledge base to analyze data and draw conclusions or recommendations.

While the knowledge base contains the factual information and rules that the system relies on, it is the inference engine that actively works with this information to resolve queries and solve problems. This distinction is crucial because the actual processing and decision-making aspect of an expert system hinges on how effectively the inference engine can utilize the knowledge it has been given.

The user interface and working memory serve different functions. The user interface is how users interact with the system, and working memory temporarily holds information while a problem is being solved, but it does not perform the actual processing of information.