Statistical AI, arising from machine learning, tends to be more concerned with
“inductive” thought: given a set of patterns, induce the trend. Classical AI, on the
other hand, is more concerned with “deductive” thought: given a set of constraints,
deduce a conclusion. Another difference, as mentioned in the previous question, is
that C++ tends to be a favorite language for statistical AI while LISP dominates in
classical AI.
A system can’t be truly intelligent without displaying properties of both inductive
and deductive thought. This lends many to believe that in the end, there will be
some kind of synthesis of statistical and classical AI.