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Please predict whether this patent is acceptable.PATENT ABSTRACT: An inference engine is described for efficient machine learning. For example, an inference engine executes a plurality of ordered steps to carry out inference on the basis of observed data. For each step, a plurality of inputs to the step are received. A predictor predicts an output of the step and computes uncertainty of the prediction. Either the predicted output or a known output is selected on the basis of the uncertainty. If the known output is selected, the known output is computed, (for example, using a resource intensive, accurate process). The predictor is retrained using the known output and the plurality of inputs of the step as training data. For example, computing the prediction is fast and efficient as compared with computing the known output.