{"id":9924,"date":"2025-08-08T19:41:30","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T11:41:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/?p=9924"},"modified":"2025-08-08T19:41:32","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T11:41:32","slug":"design-what-is-ontology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/design-what-is-ontology\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Ontology and Its Role in Agentic Experience Design?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>When you stream music or movies and get suggested playlists or genres based on your habits, you\u2019re benefitting from a type of knowledge organisation system called ontology. Maybe you\u2019ve come across this term recently. It\u2019s a hot topic because <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/agentforce\/what-is-agentic-ai\/\">agentic AI<\/a> relies on a map of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/blog\/what-is-metadata\/\">metadata relationships<\/a> \u2013 the data about the data \u2013 in order to make decisions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, what is ontology, how does it work, and why does it matter? Let\u2019s dig into the basics of this discipline and its role in agentic experience design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-we-ll-cover\">What we\u2019ll cover:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#h-what-is-ontology\">What is ontology?<\/a><br><a href=\"#h-ontologies-structure-concepts-and-information\">Ontologies structure concepts and information<\/a><br><a href=\"#h-anatomy-of-an-ontology\">Anatomy of an ontology<\/a><br><a href=\"#h-Invisible-but-crucial-to-innovation\">Invisible but crucial to innovation<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-ontology\">What is ontology?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the world of AI, ontology is a system for organising information so computers can understand and use that data to make decisions on the output. To state this more formally, an ontology structures concepts and information through the description of classes, properties, attributes, relationships, and logical axioms. Ontologies form data models for knowledge graphs, ensuring consistency and understanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If that feels academic, it\u2019s because it is. Ontology actually evolved from a philosophical discipline \u2014 basically, categorising things in the universe to understand how they relate to one another. Today, it&#8217;s a practical tool for structuring knowledge. It\u2019s now related to information and <a href=\"https:\/\/locallyoptimistic.com\/post\/the-five-laws-of-data-enablement-how-the-father-of-library-science-would-make-his-data-team-indispensable\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">library science<\/a>, or the study of how to manage, organise, access, preserve, and share information. (Ask a librarian about ontology and watch them light up.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Without ontologies, your experience using any number of digital platforms would be chaotic. Here are two familiar examples of well-designed ontologies that shape your user experience (UX) and enjoyment:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Spotify has ontologies for music genres, with lots of metadata about albums, artists, and how they&#8217;re organised in various playlists. These ontologies help power so many rich playlists and stations where they can dynamically generate these experiences purely based on what music you\u2019ve already engaged in.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Netflix optimises its recommendation engines with the richness of their ontology of genres, actors, producers, and more. You likely have discovered a new show or movie thanks in part to Netflix\u2019s ontology.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You can imagine how personalisation and recommendation systems rely heavily on an optimal ontology to serve up content according to who you are and what you\u2019ve engaged with in their systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer\">\n\t<div>\n\t\t\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-salesforce-blog-section-heading\">\n\t<h2 class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-section-heading__title\">\n\t\t\t\tTake a Deeper Dive\t<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer__featured-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/half-life-of-ai-skills\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card__link \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card__image\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"img-object-fit\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/TSK-42256_AI_Learning.png?w=300\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/TSK-42256_AI_Learning.png 1500w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/TSK-42256_AI_Learning.png?w=300&amp;h=169 300w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/TSK-42256_AI_Learning.png?w=768&amp;h=432 768w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/TSK-42256_AI_Learning.png?w=1024&amp;h=576 1024w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/TSK-42256_AI_Learning.png?w=150&amp;h=84 150w\" alt=\"learning in the AI era\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/span>\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card__title\">\n\t\t\tThe Half-Life of AI Skills Is Shrinking: Your Training Needs To Evolve\t\t<\/h4>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer__supporting-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/agent-experience-design\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card__link \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card__image\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"img-object-fit\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/NewEra_agent_ux_holmes-e1745949687574.png?w=300\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/NewEra_agent_ux_holmes-e1745949687574.png 1500w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/NewEra_agent_ux_holmes-e1745949687574.png?w=300&amp;h=169 300w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/NewEra_agent_ux_holmes-e1745949687574.png?w=768&amp;h=432 768w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/NewEra_agent_ux_holmes-e1745949687574.png?w=1024&amp;h=576 1024w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/NewEra_agent_ux_holmes-e1745949687574.png?w=150&amp;h=84 150w\" alt=\"On a purple-blue gradient background is an illustration of a mountain range, with beams of light topped with nodes that represent agents. There&#039;s an aurora in the sky.\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/span>\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card__title\">\n\t\t\tWelcome to a New Era of Experience with AI Agents\t\t<\/h4>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/how-executives-use-ai\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card__link \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card__image\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"img-object-fit\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/06\/TSK-41337_The_New_Leadership_Test-Master_AI_for_Strategy-Model_It_for_a_Smarter_Company.png?w=300\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/06\/TSK-41337_The_New_Leadership_Test-Master_AI_for_Strategy-Model_It_for_a_Smarter_Company.png 1500w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/06\/TSK-41337_The_New_Leadership_Test-Master_AI_for_Strategy-Model_It_for_a_Smarter_Company.png?w=300&amp;h=169 300w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/06\/TSK-41337_The_New_Leadership_Test-Master_AI_for_Strategy-Model_It_for_a_Smarter_Company.png?w=768&amp;h=432 768w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/06\/TSK-41337_The_New_Leadership_Test-Master_AI_for_Strategy-Model_It_for_a_Smarter_Company.png?w=1024&amp;h=576 1024w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/06\/TSK-41337_The_New_Leadership_Test-Master_AI_for_Strategy-Model_It_for_a_Smarter_Company.png?w=150&amp;h=84 150w\" alt=\"execs using AI\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/span>\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card__title\">\n\t\t\tHow Executives Use AI For High-Stakes Work\t\t<\/h4>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/digital-transformation-human-centred-design\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card__link \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card__image\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"img-object-fit\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2023\/06\/human-centred-designjpg.jpg?w=300\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2023\/06\/human-centred-designjpg.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2023\/06\/human-centred-designjpg.jpg?w=300&amp;h=169 300w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2023\/06\/human-centred-designjpg.jpg?w=150&amp;h=84 150w\" alt=\"Successful Digital Transformations Lead With Human-Centred Design\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/span>\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card__title\">\n\t\t\tSuccessful Digital Transformations Lead With Human-Centred Design\t\t<\/h4>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ontologies-structure-concepts-and-information\">Ontologies structure concepts and information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s a spectrum of types of knowledge organisation systems that you may already know about. A simple system might be a pick list, which consists of a list of controlled values. A taxonomy is a variation that includes some hierarchy. Both of these data types are already available in Salesforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69d293964259c&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69d293964259c\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1202\" height=\"667\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-15-at-10.04.37\u202fAM.png?strip=all&#038;quality=95\" alt=\"Types of knowledge organizing systems from simple to complex: picklist, taxonomy, thesaurus, and ontology.\" class=\"wp-image-9919\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-15-at-10.04.37\u202fAM.png 1202w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-15-at-10.04.37\u202fAM.png?w=300&amp;h=166 300w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-15-at-10.04.37\u202fAM.png?w=768&amp;h=426 768w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-15-at-10.04.37\u202fAM.png?w=1024&amp;h=568 1024w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-15-at-10.04.37\u202fAM.png?w=150&amp;h=83 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1202px) 100vw, 1202px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">[Chan |Salesforce]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As we move along the spectrum, we get systems with more richness. A thesaurus has a similar structure as a taxonomy, but contains a parent-child structure and generic associated relationships to other parts of that structure. Finally, we have an ontology, which consists of a graph or network structure that describes a combination of classes. It has more robust and extensive descriptors for the relationship types.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But what pick lists, taxonomies, and thesaurus systems don\u2019t have is the flexibility to grow as your systems grow and evolve. There is more complexity in reorganising hierarchies as you introduce new instances. That\u2019s where ontology comes in as a graph or network structure \u2014 nodes and relationships that can expand easily. The complexity of these concepts and their relationships become a broader representation of a domain that includes richer rules for inference and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/agentforce\/what-is-a-reasoning-engine\/atlas\/\">reasoning<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No doubt, this is a heady subject that gets technical really fast. But if you\u2019ve ever played the <a href=\"https:\/\/oracleofbacon.org\/graph.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon<\/a> game and had to explain how a given actor is directly or indirectly connected to Kevin Bacon, you have a high-level sense of how an ontology works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-anatomy-of-an-ontology\">Anatomy of an ontology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>What makes an ontology? Let\u2019s explore the anatomy of an ontology with an example that comes from healthcare:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-class\"><strong>Class<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69d2939643328&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69d2939643328\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1391\" height=\"778\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-21-at-2.58.49\u202fPM.png?strip=all&#038;quality=95\" alt=\"What is a Class: person, disease, test. Person can be a patient or oncologist. Disease might be glioblastoma or medulloblastoma. Test might be MRI or CT scan.\" class=\"wp-image-9920\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-21-at-2.58.49\u202fPM.png 1391w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-21-at-2.58.49\u202fPM.png?w=300&amp;h=168 300w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-21-at-2.58.49\u202fPM.png?w=768&amp;h=430 768w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-21-at-2.58.49\u202fPM.png?w=1024&amp;h=573 1024w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-21-at-2.58.49\u202fPM.png?w=150&amp;h=84 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1391px) 100vw, 1391px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">[Chan | Salesforce]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A class is a collection of related objects, individuals, or instances. Assign metadata attributes at the class level so that any class or subclass can inherit those attributes. We can define a person, a disease, and a test in a medical setting. The classes we define serve as the organising metadata framework for the scope of all our ontologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-individual\"><strong>Individual<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69d2939643fb6&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69d2939643fb6\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1079\" height=\"601\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-21-at-2.52.56\u202fPM.png?strip=all&#038;quality=95\" alt=\"What are Individuals. A person who might be a patient (John Doe) or an oncologist (Jane Smith).\" class=\"wp-image-9921\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-21-at-2.52.56\u202fPM.png 1079w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-21-at-2.52.56\u202fPM.png?w=300&amp;h=167 300w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-21-at-2.52.56\u202fPM.png?w=768&amp;h=428 768w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-21-at-2.52.56\u202fPM.png?w=1024&amp;h=570 1024w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-21-at-2.52.56\u202fPM.png?w=150&amp;h=84 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1079px) 100vw, 1079px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">[Chan | Salesforce]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Individuals are instances of the class or subclass. In this example, a person is the higher order class, a patient is a subclass, and John Doe is an instance, or an individual or patient. From a machine perspective, you can infer that John Doe is a patient and a person. Likewise, Jane Smith is an oncologist and person. If there&#8217;s any metadata about Jane Smith, like an honorific, we know that her title is Dr. Jane Smith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-axiom\"><strong>Axiom<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69d2939644c53&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69d2939644c53\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1074\" height=\"595\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-21-at-2.53.29\u202fPM.png?strip=all&#038;quality=95\" alt=\"What is an Axiom? Disease to cancer. Patient to primary care physician. Amoxicillin which comes in different forms, strengths, brands, interactions, uses, storage, side effects.\" class=\"wp-image-9922\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-21-at-2.53.29\u202fPM.png 1074w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-21-at-2.53.29\u202fPM.png?w=300&amp;h=166 300w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-21-at-2.53.29\u202fPM.png?w=768&amp;h=425 768w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-21-at-2.53.29\u202fPM.png?w=1024&amp;h=567 1024w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-21-at-2.53.29\u202fPM.png?w=150&amp;h=83 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1074px) 100vw, 1074px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">[Chan | Salesforce]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Axioms codify in the structure what is the truth about the domain being modeled. It can be expressed in the attributes of the classes or directly in the relationships. In this example, cancer is a subclass of disease. It&#8217;s a subclass because we also know there are many types of cancer which could be considered instances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A patient can have at most one primary physician. This type of metadata could be expressed as an axiom directly on the relationship. Another type of axiom would be the expression of dosage for medication that can be expressed as additional nodes in the structure related to medications.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-relationships\"><strong>Relationships<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69d293964592d&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69d293964592d\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1084\" height=\"611\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-21-at-2.54.15\u202fPM.png?strip=all&#038;quality=95\" alt=\"What is a Relationship (object properties). Patient goes to hospital, employs doctor who can order tests and send to specialist, who diagnoses disease, which is the cause of headaches.\" class=\"wp-image-9923\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-21-at-2.54.15\u202fPM.png 1084w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-21-at-2.54.15\u202fPM.png?w=300&amp;h=169 300w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-21-at-2.54.15\u202fPM.png?w=768&amp;h=433 768w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-21-at-2.54.15\u202fPM.png?w=1024&amp;h=577 1024w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-21-at-2.54.15\u202fPM.png?w=150&amp;h=85 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1084px) 100vw, 1084px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">[Chan | Salesforce]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Relationships convey meaning. For instance, we haven\u2019t:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>identified any of the durable medical equipment,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>modeled the health insurance benefits that would cover for this condition,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>or itemised all the symptoms or all the body systems involved in this snapshot.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>So those relationship connections without context provide no meaning. Once you apply the object properties or relationships, you get content, and you get a new level of understanding of how things are related.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-invisible-but-crucial-to-innovation\">Invisible but crucial to innovation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Optimising the hidden power of ontologies is the race within the race to create the best-in-class agentic AI technologies. There are numerous decisions an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/agentforce\/ai-agents\/\">agent<\/a> has to make based on the information it can access. All of that information needs to be labeled and connected accurately and consistently in a machine-readable format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ontology helps to create a common vocabulary and related terms to describe types of information, which helps with natural language processing. It makes information reusable and enables AI to answer questions. Ontologies also work with other ontologies, collectively powering agentic AI to do its best to deliver what you ask of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s daunting but crucial work to harness metadata. Knowing how to organise troves of information so that your digital workforce can use it to make decisions means better personalisation and more precise results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>AI agents need a structured metadata map to make sense of how information is connected so they can generate meaningful outcomes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":129,"featured_media":9918,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sf_justforyou_enable_alt":true,"optimizely_content_id":"5ee89a31ab4540bb994858c8AP","post_meta_title":"","ai_synopsis":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"sf_topic":[70,482,23,665,601],"sf_content_type":[],"coauthors":[751],"class_list":["post-9924","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","sf_topic-machine-learning","sf_topic-generative-ai","sf_topic-artificial-intelligence","sf_topic-agentforce","sf_topic-designer"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - 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