It allows the agent to operate in initially unknown environments and to become more competent than its initial knowledge alone might allow.

The learning element is responsible for making improvements, and the performance element is responsible for selecting external actions. The performance element takes in percepts and decides on actions.

The learning element uses feedback from the critic on how the agent is doing and determines how the performance element should be modified to do better in the future.

The last component of the learning PROBLEM agent is the problem generator. It is responsible for suggesting actions that will lead to new and informative experiences.