Weekly Learning Log

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Weekly Learning Log

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lagloireamesgenous

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Weekly Learning Log

Student Name: Carol Zhang Week #: 3

Select one of the required readings, faculty lectures, or videos focused on the big-picture problem or
one of the three academic disciplines. (Of course, you are expected to complete all assignments, and you
may choose to apply the Weekly Log format and questions for your own personal use with the
assignments you don’t select for your Log).

IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not choose content from the systems-thinking or design-thinking curricular
materials - materials you’re completing prior to each week’s midweek live session - as the subject of
your weekly log entry. You will be actively engaging with those materials through other course
assignments.

Title of Resource: Machine learning, explained by Sara Brown

What are the two most important (empirical) facts or findings you have learned through this
lecture or reading? Why are these facts or findings significant? How do they contribute to your
understanding of the issue?

Widespread Use of Machine Learning:

A 2020 Deloitte survey revealed that 67% of companies are currently utilizing machine learning,
with an overwhelming 97% either using or planning to use this technology within the next year.
This empirical finding is significant because it highlights the extensive adoption and critical
importance of machine learning across various industries. The fact that nearly all surveyed
companies are integrating or planning to integrate machine learning into their operations
underscores its pivotal role in contemporary business practices. This widespread
implementation suggests that machine learning is no longer a niche technology but a
mainstream tool essential for maintaining competitive advantage, optimizing operations, and
driving innovation. Understanding this helps us appreciate the transformative impact of
machine learning and its necessity for businesses to stay relevant in an increasingly data-driven
market.

Machine Learning's Impact on Various Industries:

Machine learning is revolutionizing a wide array of sectors, from manufacturing and retail to
finance and healthcare. Its applications include recommendation algorithms for services like
Netflix, fraud detection systems for banks, and diagnostic tools in medical imaging. This finding
is significant because it demonstrates the broad applicability and transformative potential of
machine learning across different fields. It shows that machine learning technology is not
confined to tech-centric companies but is relevant and beneficial to a diverse range of
industries. This insight broadens our understanding of the practical applications of machine
learning and its ability to address industry-specific challenges, thus enhancing efficiency,
accuracy, and productivity in various domains

What is a core concept or a theory that you have learned through this lecture or reading? Why
is this concept or theory significant?

Machine Learning as a Subfield of AI:

Machine learning is defined as a subfield of artificial intelligence (AI) that enables computers to
learn from data and improve over time without being explicitly programmed. This core concept
is significant because it forms the foundation of understanding how AI systems operate and
evolve. Unlike traditional programming, which relies on predefined rules and instructions,
machine learning focuses on developing algorithms that allow computers to learn from and
make predictions based on data. This paradigm shift is crucial because it opens up new
possibilities for automating complex tasks and solving problems that were previously difficult or
impossible to address with conventional programming methods. Understanding this concept
helps in grasping the nature of AI advancements and the fundamental principles that drive
intelligent systems.

What is one fact, idea, theory, or concept that you found most interesting from this lecture or
reading? Why do you find it compelling?

Explainability in Machine Learning:

The challenge of explainability, or understanding how and why machine learning models make
decisions, is a critical aspect of AI development. This concept is compelling because it highlights
the tension between leveraging powerful, complex algorithms and maintaining transparency
and accountability. As machine learning models, particularly deep learning networks, become
more sophisticated, their inner workings often resemble a "black box," making it difficult for
even experts to decipher how specific decisions are made. This lack of transparency can be
problematic, especially in high-stakes applications like medical diagnostics or autonomous
driving, where understanding the decision-making process is essential for trust and safety. The
focus on explainability underscores the need for interpretable AI systems that stakeholders can
understand and trust, ensuring that the deployment of machine learning technologies is both
effective and ethically sound.

What insight(s) have you gained from this resource that are particularly relevant to your team’s
problem space? How might the insight(s) inform your and your team’s development and
refinement of your problem statement and your understanding of stakeholders and their
needs, or other work related to your project?
Importance of Identifying Appropriate Use Cases:
One crucial insight from the reading is that machine learning should not be viewed as a solution
in search of a problem. Instead, businesses should begin with a clear understanding of a specific
business problem or customer need that machine learning can address effectively. This
perspective is particularly relevant to our team's problem space as it emphasizes the
importance of targeted application of machine learning technology. Rather than attempting to
retrofit machine learning into our processes indiscriminately, we should focus on identifying
areas where it can provide the most value. This approach ensures that our solutions are aligned
with real-world challenges and stakeholder needs, enhancing the relevance and impact of our
project. By concentrating on well-defined problems that can benefit from machine learning, we
can develop more practical and effective solutions that address the genuine requirements of
our stakeholders.

What is one question that you have after this lecture or reading?

How can businesses best balance the need for explainability with the complexity of advanced
machine learning models like deep learning, which are often seen as black boxes?

This question arises from the discussion on the importance of explainability in machine
learning. As models become more advanced, particularly with deep learning, they often
become less interpretable. Businesses must navigate the challenge of utilizing these powerful
tools while ensuring they can explain and justify the decisions made by their models.

What other observations or questions, if any, do you have about this lecture or reading?
OBSERVATIONS:
Impact of Bias in Machine Learning:

The reading highlights the issue of bias in machine learning models, which can perpetuate and
even exacerbate existing inequities if biased data is used for training. This raises the question of
what specific strategies or methodologies can be employed to mitigate bias in machine learning
models. Addressing this concern is critical for developing fair and equitable AI systems that do
not inadvertently reinforce harmful biases.
Ethical Considerations:
Given the ethical implications of machine learning, another observation is the need for
companies to ensure their AI initiatives align with ethical standards and contribute positively to
society. This involves not only technical considerations but also organizational support for
ethical AI practices, such as embracing human-centered AI and engaging with diverse
stakeholders. Exploring how companies can operationalize these ethical considerations in their
AI development and deployment processes is an important area for further investigation.

Question:

How can organizations balance the need for transparency and explainability in machine
learning models with the complexity and performance benefits of advanced algorithms like
deep learning? What practical steps can be taken to make these models more interpretable
without significantly compromising their effectiveness?

For Weeks 4, 6, and 8 only: Please include a systems map, visually representing your learning from
the relevant academic disciplinary module. Embed a screenshot or image of your systems map below.