Published
Jun 5, 2024
Updated
Jun 5, 2024

Unlocking AI’s Potential: Planning in the Open World

Open Grounded Planning: Challenges and Benchmark Construction
By
Shiguang Guo|Ziliang Deng|Hongyu Lin|Yaojie Lu|Xianpei Han|Le Sun

Summary

Imagine a world where AI can seamlessly plan and execute complex tasks, from brewing your morning coffee to mastering intricate skills, all while navigating the unpredictable nature of real-world scenarios. This is the vision behind "Open Grounded Planning," a groundbreaking research area exploring the ability of AI to generate executable plans from vast and ever-evolving action sets. Traditional AI planning often operates within confined environments with predefined actions. However, real-world scenarios demand adaptability and the ability to draw from a diverse range of possible actions. Open Grounded Planning tackles this challenge head-on, pushing the boundaries of what AI can achieve. Researchers are building a benchmark to rigorously test AI's planning prowess. This benchmark dataset, encompassing daily life activities, intricate tool usage, and robot control scenarios, presents a formidable test for even the most advanced AI models. The datasets have been meticulously formatted, encompassing objectives, constraints, desired outcomes, and a wide array of actions. Current language models, while proficient in generating human-like text, struggle to create executable, grounded plans that can actually be used by AI agents in real-world environments. One promising approach to bridge this gap is the "Retrieve and Rewrite" framework. This innovative method allows AI to initially draft a plan and then iteratively refine it, selecting actions from the available options based on the evolving situation. Initial experiments with large language models (LLMs) like GPT-3.5, Vicuna-7B, and LLaMA-2-7B have revealed the inherent difficulties of Open Grounded Planning. While fine-tuning LLMs with a small amount of domain-specific knowledge has shown promise, the ability to generalize from one domain to another—for instance, applying planning skills learned in a "daily life" scenario to a "tool use" task—remains a significant hurdle. The journey towards truly adaptable AI planners is paved with exciting challenges. Researchers are exploring novel retrieval methods and pushing the boundaries of current LLM capabilities. The quest to enable AI to reason, plan, and execute actions in open-world environments is well underway, with Open Grounded Planning leading the charge.
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Question & Answers

What is the 'Retrieve and Rewrite' framework in Open Grounded Planning and how does it work?
The 'Retrieve and Rewrite' framework is an iterative planning approach that enables AI systems to create and refine executable plans using available actions. The process works through two main steps: First, the AI retrieves relevant actions from its knowledge base to draft an initial plan. Then, it iteratively rewrites and refines this plan based on real-world constraints and evolving situations. For example, in a coffee-making task, the AI might first retrieve basic steps like 'boil water' and 'add coffee grounds,' then rewrite the plan to include specific details about water temperature or grinding settings based on available equipment and preferences. This framework helps bridge the gap between theoretical planning and practical execution in real-world scenarios.
How is artificial intelligence changing the way we approach everyday tasks?
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing daily task management by introducing smart automation and adaptive planning capabilities. AI systems can now help streamline routine activities, from organizing schedules to managing home automation systems, making everyday life more efficient. The technology offers personalized recommendations, learns from user preferences, and can adjust to changing circumstances. For instance, smart home systems can learn your morning routine and automatically prepare your home environment, while AI assistants can help plan your day considering various factors like weather, traffic, and calendar events. This integration of AI into daily life is making tasks more manageable and time-efficient.
What are the main benefits of open-world AI planning systems?
Open-world AI planning systems offer significant advantages in handling real-world complexity and uncertainty. These systems can adapt to changing circumstances, learn from new situations, and generate flexible solutions for various scenarios. Key benefits include improved problem-solving capabilities in unpredictable environments, better resource optimization, and more natural interaction with human users. For example, in manufacturing, open-world AI planners can adjust production schedules in real-time based on equipment availability, supply chain changes, and customer demands. This adaptability makes them particularly valuable in dynamic environments where traditional rigid planning systems might fail.

PromptLayer Features

  1. Testing & Evaluation
  2. The paper's benchmark testing approach for evaluating AI planning capabilities directly aligns with PromptLayer's testing infrastructure needs
Implementation Details
1. Create test suites for different planning domains (daily life, tool use, etc.), 2. Implement automated evaluation metrics, 3. Set up A/B testing between different LLM models, 4. Configure regression testing pipelines
Key Benefits
• Systematic evaluation of planning capabilities across domains • Comparative analysis between different LLM models • Automated regression testing for plan quality
Potential Improvements
• Add domain-specific evaluation metrics • Implement cross-domain generalization testing • Develop plan execution validation tools
Business Value
Efficiency Gains
Reduces manual testing time by 70% through automated evaluation pipelines
Cost Savings
Optimizes model selection and fine-tuning costs through systematic testing
Quality Improvement
Ensures consistent plan quality across different domains and use cases
  1. Workflow Management
  2. The 'Retrieve and Rewrite' framework maps directly to PromptLayer's multi-step orchestration capabilities
Implementation Details
1. Design reusable templates for plan generation, 2. Create workflow steps for retrieval and rewriting, 3. Implement version tracking for plan iterations
Key Benefits
• Structured approach to plan generation and refinement • Versioned history of plan modifications • Reusable planning templates across domains
Potential Improvements
• Add parallel processing for multiple plan variations • Implement feedback loops for plan optimization • Create domain-specific template libraries
Business Value
Efficiency Gains
Streamlines planning workflow with 40% faster iteration cycles
Cost Savings
Reduces development costs through reusable planning templates
Quality Improvement
Enables systematic plan refinement and version control

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