What is Machine Learning?

Machine learning (ML) is a subfield of artificial intelligence that enables

machines to learn from data without being explicitly programmed.
In machine learning, algorithm development is core work. These algorithms are
trained on data to learn the hidden patterns and make predictions based on
what they learned. The whole process of training the algorithms is termed
model building.
How does Machine Learning work?
The mechanism of how a machine learns from a model is divided into three
main components −
• Decision Process − Based on the input data and output labels provided to
the model, it will produce a logic about the pattern identified.
• Cost Function − It is the measure of error between expected value and
predicted value. This is used to evaluate the performance of machine
learning.
• Optimization Process − Cost function can be minimized by adjusting the
weights at the training stage. The algorithm will repeat the process of
evaluation and optimization until the error minimizes.

Need for Machine Learning

Human beings, at this moment, are the most intelligent and advanced species
on earth because they can think, evaluate and solve complex problems. On the
other side, AI is still in its initial stage and hasn’t surpassed human intelligence
in many aspects.
Then the question is, what is the need to make machines learn? The most
suitable reason for doing this is “to make decisions, based on data, with
efficiency and scale”.
Lately, organizations are investing heavily in newer technologies like Artificial
Intelligence, Machine Learning and Deep Learning to get the key information
from data to perform several real-world tasks and solve problems. We can call it
data-driven decisions taken by machines, particularly to automate the process.
These data-driven decisions can be used, instead of programming logic, in
problems that cannot be programmed inherently. The fact is that we can’t do
without human intelligence, but another aspect is that we all need to solve
real-world problems with efficiency at a huge scale. That is why the need for
machine learning arises.
History of Machine Learning
The history of Machine learning roots back to the year 1959, when Arthur
Samuel invented a program that calculates the winning probability in checkers
for each side.
Well, the evolution of Machine learning through decades started with the
question, "Can Machines think?". Then came the rise of neural
networks between 1960 and 1970. Machine learning continued to advance
through statistical methods such as Bayesian networks and decision
tree learning.
The revolution of Deep Learning started off in the 2010s with the evolution of
tasks such as natural language processing, convolution neural networks and
speech recognition. Today, machine learning has turned out to be a
revolutionizing technology that has become a part of all fields, ranging from
healthcare to finance and transportation.

Machine Learning Methods

Machine learning models can be categorized mainly into the following four
types −
• Supervised Machine Learning
• Unsupervised Machine Learning
• Semi-supervised Machine Learning
• Reinforcement Machine Learning
Let's explore each of the above types of machine learning in detail.
Supervised Machine Learning
In supervised machine learning, the algorithm is trained on labeled data,
meaning that the correct answer or output is provided for each input. The
algorithm then uses this labeled data to make predictions about new, unseen
data.
Unsupervised Machine Learning
In unsupervised machine learning, the algorithm is trained on unlabeled data,
meaning that the correct output or answer is not provided for each input.
Instead, the algorithm must identify patterns and structures in the data on its
own.
Semi-supervised Machine Learning
Semi-supervised machine learning is a type of machine learning technique that
is an integration of supervised and unsupervised learning as it uses a major
portion of unlabeled dataset and minor portion of labeled data for training an
algorithm preferably for classification and regression tasks.

Reinforcement Machine Learning

In reinforcement machine learning, the algorithm learns by receiving feedback
in the form of rewards or punishments based on its actions. The algorithm then
uses this feedback to adjust its behavior and improve performance.
Machine Learning Use Cases
Machine learning has become a significant part of all our lives. It is broadly used
in every industry, especially industries that involve dealing with large data.
Some of the use cases of Machine learning are:
Recommendation System
They are software engines designed to suggest items to users based on their
likes and dislikes, previous engagement with the application, etc. This helps
enhance the user experience which would increase sales of a business.
Voice Assistants
It is a digital assistant that works based on speech recognition, language
processing algorithms, and voice synthesis to listen to a specific voice command
and reciprocate back with relevant information asked by the user.
Fraud Detection
It is the process of identifying unusual activities within a system or organization
mostly used in the financial sector to identify fraudulent transactions. An
algorithm is trained to monitor transactions, behaviors, and patterns to identify
suspicious activities that can be reported and looked into further.

Health Care
Machine learning is widely used in the health sector to diagnose a disease,
improve medical imaging accuracy, and personalize patient treatment.
Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
Also known as software robotics, RPA uses intelligent automation technologies
to perform repetitive manual tasks.
Drive-less Cars
The idea of having a car that drives for itself took technology to another level.
Though the algorithm and tech stack behind these technologies are advanced,
the core is machine learning. The most common example is Tesla cars, which
are well-tested and proven.
Computer Vision
This focuses on enabling computers to identify and understand images and
videos. They seek to perform and automate tasks that replicate human
capabilities like face recognition.
Advantages of Machine Learning
• Automation − With machine learning, every task especially repetitive can
be done seamlessly saving time and energy for humans. For example, the
deployment of chatbots has improved customer experience and reduced
waiting time. While human agents can work on dealing with creativity
and complex problems.
• Enhancing user experience and decision making − Machine learning
models can analyze and gain insights from large datasets for decision
making. Machine learning also allows for the personalization of products
and services to enhance the customer experience. An algorithm analyzes
 customer preferences and past behavior to recommend products that
enhance retail and also user experience.
• Wide Applicability − This technology has wide range of applications.
From health care and finance to business and marketing, machine
learning is applied in almost all sectors to improve productivity.
• Continuous Improvement − Machine learning algorithms are designed in
a way that they keep learning to improve accuracy and efficiency. Every
time the data is retrained by the model, the decisions improve.
Disadvantages of Machine Learning
• Data acquisition − The most crucial and the most difficult task in machine
learning is collecting data. Every machine learning algorithm requires
data that is relevant, unbiased, and good quality. Better data would result
in better performance of the machine learning model.
• Inaccurate Results − Another major challenge in machine learning is the
credibility of the interpreted result generated by the algorithm.
• Chances of Error − Machine learning depends on two things data and
algorithm. Any incorrectness or bias in these could result in errors and
inaccurate outcomes. For example, if the dataset trained is small, then
the algorithm cannot fully understand the patterns resulting in biased
and irrelevant perdition.
• Maintenance − Machine learning models have to continuously be
maintained and monitored to ensure that they remain effective and
accurate over time.
Challenges in Machine Learning
Despite the progress of Machine learning, there are a few challenges and
limitations that have to be addressed.
• Data Privacy − Machine learning models highly depend on data.
Sometimes, it might be personal details. Keeping privacy and security
concerns in mind, the data collected should be limited to only what is
required by the model. It also requires the balance of the use of sensitive
data with the protection of an individual's privacy. The key tasks include
effective anonymization, data protection, and data security.
• Impact on Jobs − Machine learning takes up roles and tasks that can be
automated like jobs in areas like data entry and customer service.
Simultaneously it also creates job opportunities related to data
preparation and algorithm development like data scientist, machine
learning engineer and many more. Machine learning towards human
resources towards data-driven decision making and creativity.
• Bias and Discrimination − In the aspect of privacy considerations, a few
sensitive attributes have to be protected such as race and gender from
being inappropriately used to avoid discrimination.
• Ethical Consideration − It helps to access how these machine learning
algorithms impact individuals, society and various other sectors. The goal
of these ethics is to establish a few guidelines to maintain transparency,
accountability and social responsibility.
Machine Learning Algorithms Vs. Traditional Programming
The difference between machine algorithms and traditional programming
depends on how they are programmed to handle tasks. Some comparisons
based on different criteria are tabulated below:

Criteria Machine learning algorithms Traditional programming

Explicit rules are given to

Problem The computer learns from
the computer to follow in
solving training a model on large
the form of code that is
approach datasets.
manually programmed.

They heavily rely on data, it They rely less on data, as

Data defines the performance of the the output depends on
model. the logic encoded.

Best suited for complex problems

like image segmentation or Best suited for a problem
Complexity
natural language processing, with defined outcome and
of Problem
which require identifying patterns logic.
and relationships in the data.

It is highly flexible and adapts to

It has limited flexibility, as
different scenarios, especially
Flexibility the changes should be
because the model is retrained
done manually.
with new data.

The outcome in
The outcome in machine learning
traditional programming
is unpredictable, as it depends on
Outcome can be accurately
data trained, model and many
predicted if the problem
other things.
and logic are known.
Machine Learning Vs. Deep Learning
Deep learning is a sub-field of Machine learning. The actual difference between
these is the way the algorithm learns.
In Machine learning, computers learn from large datasets using algorithms to
perform tasks like prediction and recommendation. Whereas Deep learning
uses a complex structure of algorithms developed similar to the human brain.
The effectiveness of deep learning models for complex problems is more
compared to machine learning models. For example, autonomous vehicles are
usually developed using deep learning where it can identify a U-TURN sign
board using image segmentation while if a machine learning model was used,
the features of the signboard are selected and then identified using a classifier
algorithm.
Machine Learning Vs. Generative AI
Machine learning and Generative AI are different branches with different
applications. While Machine Learning is used for predictive analysis and
decision-making, Generative AI focuses on creating content, including realistic
images and videos in existing patterns.
Future of Machine Learning
Machine Learning is definitely going to be the next game changer in technology.
Automated machine learning and synthetic data generation, are new age
developments that make machine learning more accessible and efficient.
One big technology that is an adoption of machine learning is Quantum
computing. It uses the mechanical phenomenon of quantum to create a system
that exhibits multiple states at the same time. These advanced quantum
algorithms are used to process data at high speed. AutoML is another
technology that combines automation and machine learning. It potentially
includes each stage from raw data to developing a model ready for deployment.
Multi-modal AI is an AI system used to effectively interpret and analyze multi-
sensory inputs, including texts, speech, images, and sensor data. Generative
AI is another emerging application of machine learning which focuses on
creating new content that mimics existing patterns. A few other emerging
technologies that have an impact on Machine learning are Edge computing,
Robotics, and many more.
How to Learn Machine Learning?
Getting started with machine learning can seem intimidating, but with the right
resources and guidance, it can be a rewarding experience. Below is a 5-step
process getting started with machine learning is broken −
Step 1 − Learn the Fundamentals of Machine Learning
Before diving into machine learning, it's important to have a solid
understanding of the fundamentals. This includes learning about data types,
statistics, algorithms, and programming languages like Python. There are many
online courses, books, and tutorials available that can help you get started.
Step 2 − Choose a Machine Learning Framework
Once you have a basic understanding of machine learning, it's time to choose a
framework. There are many popular machine learning frameworks available,
including TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Scikit-Learn. Each framework has its own
strengths and weaknesses, so it's important to choose one that aligns with your
goals and expertise.
Step 3 − Practice with Real Data
One of the best ways to learn machine learning is by practicing with real data.
You can find publicly available datasets on websites like Kaggle or UCI Machine
Learning Repository. Practicing with real data will help you understand how to
clean, preprocess, and analyze data, as well as how to choose appropriate
algorithms for different types of problems.
Step 4 − Build Your Own Projects
As you gain more experience with machine learning, it's important to start
building your own projects. This will help you apply what you've learned and
develop your skills further. You can start with simple projects, like building a
recommendation system or a sentiment analysis tool, and then move on to
more complex projects as you become more comfortable with the process.
Step 5 − Participate in Machine Learning Communities
Joining machine learning communities, such as online forums or meetups, can
be a great way to connect with other people who are interested in the same
field. You can learn from others, share your own experiences, and get feedback
on your projects. This can help you stay motivated and engaged as you continue
to learn and grow.
Types of Machine Learning
We can categorize the machine learning algorithms into three different types -
supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning. Let's discuss these three
types in detail −
Supervised Learning
Supervised learning that uses labeled dataset to train algorithms to understand
data patterns and predict outcomes. For example, filtering a mail into inbox or
spam folder.
The supervised learning further can be classified into two types − classification
and regression.
There are different supervised learning algorithms that are widely used −
• Linear Regression
• Logistic Regression
• Decision Trees
• Random Forest
• K-nearest Neighbor
• Support Vector Machine
• Naive Bayes
• Linear Discriminant Analysis
• Neural Networks
Unsupervised Learning
Unsupervised learning is a type of Machine learning that uses unlabeled
dataset to discover patterns without any explicit guidance or instruction. For
example, customer segmentation i.e, dividing a company's customers into
groups that reflect similarity.
Further, we can classify the unsupervised learning algorithms into three types −
clustering, association, and dimensionality reduction.
Followings are some commonly used unsupervised learning algorithms −
• K-Means Clustering
 • Principal Component Analysis(PCA)
• Hierarchical Clustering
• DBSCAN Clustering
• Agglomerative Clustering
• Apriori Algorithm
• Autoencoder
• Restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM)
Reinforcement Learning
Reinforcement learning algorithms are trained on datasets to make decisions
and achieve optimized results by minimizing the trial and error method. For
example, Robotics.
Following are some common reinforcement learning algorithms −
• Q-learning
• Markov Decision Process (MDP)
• SARSA
• DQN
• DDPG

Use Cases of Machine Learning

Let's discuss some important real-life use cases of different types of machine
learning algorithms
Supervised Learning
Following are some real-life use cases of supervised learning −
• Image Classification
• Spam Filtering
• House Price Prediction
• Signature Recognition
 • Weather Forecasting
• Stock price prediction
Unsupervised Learning
Some use cases of unsupervised machine learning are as follows −
• Anomaly detection
• Recommendation systems
• Customer segmentation
• Fraud detection
• Natural language processing
• Genetic search
Reinforcement Learning
Followings are some application examples, where reinforcement learning is
used −
• Autonomous vehicles
• Robotics
• Game playing

Programming Languages: Python or R

There are many programming languages, such as C++, Java, Python, R, Julia,
etc., that are used for machine learning development. You can start with any
programming language of your choice. Python programming is widely used for
machine learning and data science.
In this machine learning tutorial, we will be using Python and/ or R
programming to implement the example programs.
Following are some basic topics to cover before starting this tutorial −
• Variables, basic data types
• Data Structures: list, set, dictionaries
• Loops and conditional statements
 • Functions
• String formatting
• Classes and Objects
•

Libraries and Packages

To get started with this machine learning tutorial, we recommend getting
familiar with some libraries, packages, and modules such as NumPy, Pandas,
Matplotlib, etc.
As we are using Python programming in this tutorial, you should have some
basic understanding of the following libraries/ packages/ modules −
• NumPy − for numeric computations.
• Pandas − for data manipulation and preprocessing.
• Scikit-learn − has implemented almost all the machine learning
algorithms such as linear regression, logistic regression, k-means
clustering, k-nearest neighbor, etc.
• Matplotlib − for data visualization.
Mathematics and Statistics
Mathematics and statistics play important role in developing machine learning
and data science related applications. Advanced mathematics is not required to
get started but it helps to understand the machine learning concepts in great
detail.
The following topics are generally recommended to get familiar with before
getting started with machine learning tutorial −
Algebra
• Variables, coefficients, functions.
• Linear equations, logarithm and logarithmic equations, sigmoid function.
Linear Algebra
• Vector and matrix, matrix multiplication, dot product
• tensor and tensor ranks
Statistics and Probability
• Mean, median, mode, outliers, and standard deviation
• Ability to read a histogram
• Probability, conditional probability, Bayes rules
Calculus
• Concept of a derivative, gradient, or slope
• Partial derivatives
• Chain rule
Trigonometry
• Trigonometric functions (specially tanh) used in activation functions
Getting started with Machine Learning
You might wonder if Machine learning is hard to learn? The answer would be
absolutely not; you will require a strong understanding of mathematics,
computer science and coding, and should keep up with the AI trends. Well,
excelling in Machine learning is something that every technophile dreams of
but does not know where to start, so here are a few steps that help you get
started.
Data
Data is the foundation of machine learning. Without data, there would be
nothing for the algorithm to learn from. Data can come in many forms,
including structured data (such as spreadsheets and databases) and
unstructured data (such as text and images). The quality and quantity of the
data used to train the machine learning algorithm are crucial factors that can
significantly impact its performance.

Feature
In machine learning, features are the variables or attributes used to describe
the input data. The goal is to select the most relevant and informative features
that will allow the algorithm to make accurate predictions or decisions. Feature
selection is a crucial step in the machine learning process because the
performance of the algorithm is heavily dependent on the quality and
relevance of the features used.

Model
A machine learning model is a mathematical representation of the relationship
between the input data (features) and the output (predictions or decisions).
The model is created using a training dataset and then evaluated using a
separate validation dataset. The goal is to create a model that can accurately
generalize to new, unseen data.

Training
Training is the process of teaching the machine learning algorithm to make
accurate predictions or decisions. This is done by providing the algorithm with a
large dataset and allowing it to learn from the patterns and relationships in the
data. During training, the algorithm adjusts its internal parameters to minimize
the difference between its predicted output and the actual output.
Testing
Testing is the process of evaluating the performance of the machine learning
algorithm on a separate dataset that it has not seen before. The goal is to
determine how well the algorithm generalizes to new, unseen data. If the
algorithm performs well on the testing dataset, it is considered to be a
successful model.

Overfitting
Overfitting occurs when a machine learning model is too complex and fits the
training data too closely. This can lead to poor performance on new, unseen
data because the model is too specialized to the training dataset. To prevent
overfitting, it is important to use a validation dataset to evaluate the model's
performance and to use regularization techniques to simplify the model.
Underfitting
Underfitting occurs when a machine learning model is too simple and cannot
capture the patterns and relationships in the data. This can lead to poor
performance on both the training and testing datasets. To prevent underfitting,
we can use several techniques such as increasing model complexity, collect
more data, reduce regularization, and feature engineering.
It is important to note that preventing underfitting is a balancing act between
model complexity and the amount of data available. Increasing model
complexity can help prevent underfitting, but if there is not enough data to
support the increased complexity, overfitting may occur instead. Therefore, it is
important to monitor the model's performance and adjust the complexity as
necessary.
Why & When to Make Machines Learn?
We have already discussed the need for machine learning, but another
question arises that in what scenarios we must make the machine learn? There
can be several circumstances where we need machines to take data-driven
decisions with efficiency and at a huge scale. The followings are some of such
circumstances where making machines learn would be more effective −
Lack of human expertise
The very first scenario in which we want a machine to learn and take data-
driven decisions, can be the domain where there is a lack of human expertise.
The examples can be navigations in unknown territories or spatial planets.
Dynamic scenarios
There are some scenarios which are dynamic in nature i.e. they keep changing
over time. In case of these scenarios and behaviors, we want a machine to learn
and take data-driven decisions. Some of the examples can be network
connectivity and availability of infrastructure in an organization.
Difficulty in translating expertise into computational tasks
There can be various domains in which humans have their expertise,; however,
they are unable to translate this expertise into computational tasks. In such
circumstances we want machine learning. The examples can be the domains of
speech recognition, cognitive tasks etc.
Machine Learning - Applications
Machine learning has become the ubiquitous technology that has impacted
many aspects of our lives, from business to healthcare to entertainment.
Machine learning helps make decisions and find all possible solutions to a
problem which improves the efficiency of work in every sector.
Some of the successful machine learning applications are chatbots, language
translation, face recognition, recommendation systems, autonomous vehicles,
object detection, medical image analysis, etc. Here are some popular
applications of machine learning −
• Image and Speech Recognition
• Natural Language Processing
• Finance Sector
• E-commerce and Retail
• Automotive Sector
• Computer Vision
• Manufacturing and Industries
• Healthcare Sector
Let us discuss all applications of machine learning in detail −
Image and Speech Recognition
Image and speech recognition are two areas where machine learning has
significantly improved. Machine learning algorithms are used in applications
such as facial recognition, object detection, and speech recognition to
accurately identify and classify images and speech.

Natural Language Processing

Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a field of computer science that deals with
the interaction between computers and humans using natural language. NLP
uses machine learning algorithms to identify parts of speech, sentiment and
other aspects of text. It analyzes, understands, and generates human language.
It is currently all over the internet which includes translation software, search
engines, chatbots, grammar correction software and voice assistants, etc.
Here is a list of some applications of machine learning in natural language
processing −
• Sentiment Analysis
• Speech synthesis
• Speech recognition
• Text classification
• Chatbots
• Language translation
• Caption generation
• Document summarization
• Question answering
• Autocomplete in search engines

Finance Sector
The role of machine learning in finance is to maintain secure transactions. Also,
in trading, the data is converted to information for the decision-making process.
Some applications of machine learning in the finance sector are −
1. Fraud Detection
Machine learning is widely used in the finance industry for fraud detection.
Fraud detection is a process of using a machine learning model to monitor
transactions and understand patterns in the dataset to identify fraudulent and
suspicious activities.
Machine learning algorithms can analyze vast amounts of transactional data to
detect patterns and anomalies that may indicate fraudulent activity, helping to
prevent financial losses and protect customers.
2. Algorithmic Trading
Machine learning algorithms are used to identify complex patterns in the large
dataset to discover trading signals which might not be possible for humans.
Some other applications of machine learning in the finance sector are as follows
−
• Stock market analysis and forecasting
• Credit risk assessment and management
• Security analysis and portfolio optimization
• Asset evaluation and management

E-commerce and Retail

Machine learning is used to enhance the business in e-commerce and retail
sector through recommendation systems and target advertising which improve
user experience. Machine learning makes the process of marketing easy by
performing repetitive tasks. Some tasks where Machine learning is applied are:
1. Recommendation Systems
Recommendation systems are used to provide personalized recommendations
to users based on their past behavior and preferences and previous interaction
with the website. Machine learning algorithms are used to analyze user data
and generate recommendations for products, services, and content.
2. Demand Forecasting
Companies use machine learning to understand the future demand for their
product or services based on various factors like market trends, customer
behavior and historical data regarding sales.
3. Customer Segmentation
Machine learning can be used to segment customers into particular groups with
similar characteristics. The purpose of customer segmentation is to understand
customer behavior and target them with personalized experience.
Automotive Sector
Who would have thought of a car that would move independently without
driving? Machine learning enabled manufacturers to improve the performance
of existing products and vehicles. One massive innovation is the development
of autonomous vehicles also called drive less vehicles which can sense its
environment and drive for itself passing the obstacles without human
assistance. It uses machine learning algorithms for continuous analysis of the
surroundings and predicting possible outcomes.

Computer Vision
Computer vision is an application of machine learning that uses algorithms and
neural networks to teach computers to derive meaningful information from
digital images and videos. Computer vision is applied in face recognition, to
diagnose diseases based on MRI scans, and autonomous vehicles.
• Object detection and recognition
• Image classification and recognition
• Faicial recognition
• Autonomous vehicles
• Object segmentation
• Image reconstruction
Manufacturing and Industries
Machine learning is also used in manufacturing and industries to keep a check
on the working conditions of machinery. Predictive Maintenance is used to
identify defects in operational machines and equipment to avoid unexpected
outages. This detection of anomalies would also help with regular maintenance.
Predictive maintenance is a process of using machine learning algorithms to
predict when maintenance will be required on a machine, such as a piece of
equipment in a factory. By analyzing data from sensors and other sources,
machine learning algorithms can detect patterns that indicate when a machine
is likely to fail, enabling maintenance to be performed before the machine
breaks down.
Healthcare Sector
Machine learning has also found many applications in the healthcare industry.
For example, machine learning algorithms can be used to analyze medical
images and detect diseases such as cancer or to predict patient outcomes
based on their medical history and other factors.
Some applications of machine learning in healthcare are discussed below −
1. Medical Imaging and Diagnostics
Machine learning in medical imaging is used to analyze the patterns in the
image that indicate the presence of a particular disease.
2. Drug Discovery
Machine learning techniques are used to analyze vast datasets, to predict the
biological activity of compounds, and to identify potential drugs for a disease by
analyzing its chemical structures.
3. Disease Diagnosis
Machine learning may also be used to identify some types of diseases. Breast
cancer, heart failure, Alzheimer's disease, and pneumonia are some examples
of such diseases that can be identified using machine learning algorithms.
These are just a few examples of the many applications of machine learning. As
machine learning continues to evolve and improve, we can expect to see it used
in more areas of our lives, improving efficiency, accuracy, and convenience in a
variety of industries.
What is Machine Learning Life Cycle?
The machine learning life cycle is an iterative process that moves from a
business problem to a machine learning solution. It is used as a guide for
developing a machine learning project to solve a problem. It provides us with
instructions and best practices to be used in each phase while developing ML
solutions.
The machine learning life cycle is a process that involves several phases from
problem identification to model deployment and monitoring. While developing
an ML project, each step in the life cycle is revisited many times through these
phases. The stages/ phases involved in the end to end machine life cycle
process are as follows −
• Problem Definition
• Data Preparation
• Model Development
• Model Deployment
• Monitoring and Maintenance
Problem Definition
The first step in the machine learning life cycle is to identify the problem you
want to solve. It is a crucial step which helps you start building a machine
learning solution for a problem. This process of identifying a problem would
establish an understanding about what the output might be, scope of the task
and its objective.
As this step lays the foundation for building a machine learning model, the
problem definition has to be clear and concise.
This stage involves understanding the business problem, defining the problem
statement, and identifying the success criteria for the machine learning model.

Data Preparation
Data preparation is a process to prepare data for analysis by performing data
exploration, feature engineering, and feature selection. Data exploration
involves visualizing and understanding the data, while feature engineering
involves creating new features from the existing data. Feature selection involves
selecting the most relevant features that will be used to train the machine
learning model.
Data preparation process includes collecting data, preprocessing data, and
feature engineering & feature selection. This stage generally also includes
exploratory data analysis.
Let's discuss each step involved in the data preparation phase of machine
learning life cycle process −
1. Data Collection
After the problem statement is analyzed, the next step would be collecting
data. This involves gathering data from various sources which is given as a raw
material to the machine learning model. Few features that are considered while
collecting data are −
• Relevant and usefulness − The data collected has to be relevant to the
problem statement, and also should be useful enough to train the
machine learning model efficiently.
 • Quality and Quantity − The quality and quantity of the data collected
would directly impact the performance of the machine learning model.
• Variety − Make sure that the data collected is diverse so that the model
can be trained with multiple scenarios to recognize the patterns.
There are various sources from where the data can be collected like surveys,
existing databases, and online platforms like Kaggle. The sources may be
primary data which includes data collected exclusively for the problem
statement while the secondary data includes the existing data.
2. Data Preprocessing
The data collected often might be unstructured and messy which causes it to
negatively affect the outcomes, hence pre processing data is important to
improve the accuracy and performance of the machine learning model. Issues
that have to be addressed are missing values, duplicate data, invalid data and
noise.
This step of data preprocessing also called data wrangling is intended to make
the data more consumable and useful for analytics.
3. Analyzing Data
After the data is all sorted, it is time to understand the data that is collected.
The data is visualized and statistically summarized to gain insights.
Various tools like Power BI, Tableau are used to visualize data which helps in
understanding the patterns and trends in the data. This analysis will help to
make choices in feature engineering and model selection.
4. Feature Engineering and Selection
A 'Feature' is an individual measurable quantity which is preferably observed
when the machine learning model is being trained. Feature Engineering is the
process of creating new features or enhancing the existing ones to accurately
understand the patterns and trends in the data.
Feature selection involves the process of picking up features that are consistent
and more relevant to the problem statement. The process of feature
engineering and selection are used to reduce the size of the dataset which is
important to tackle the issue of growing data.
Model Development
In the model development phase, the machine learning model is built using the
prepared data. The model building process involves selecting the appropriate
machine learning algorithm, algorithm training, tuning the hyperparameters of
the algorithm, and evaluating the performance of the model using cross-
validation techniques.
This phase mainly consists of three steps, model selection, model training, and
model evaluation. Let's discuss these three steps in detail −
1. Model Selection
Model selection is a crucial step in the machine learning workflow. The decision
of choosing a model depends on basic features like characteristics of the data,
complexity of the problem, desired outcomes and how well it aligns with the
defined problem. This step affects the outcomes and performance metrics of
the model.
2. Model Training
In this process, the algorithm is fed with a preprocessed dataset to identify and
understand the patterns and relationships in the specified features.
Consistent training of a model by adjusting parameters would improve the
prediction rate and enhance accuracy. This step makes the model reliable in
real-world scenarios.
3. Model Evaluation
In model evaluation, the performance of the machine learning model is
evaluated using a set of evaluation metrics. These metrics measure the
accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score of the model. If the model has not
achieved desired performance, the model is tuned to adjust hyper parameters
and improve the predictive accuracy. This continuous iteration is essential to
make the model more accurate and reliable.
If the model's performance is still not satisfactory, it may be necessary to return
to the model selection stage and continue to model training and evaluation to
improve the model's performance.
Model Deployment
In the model deployment phase, we deploy the machine learning model into
production. This process involves integrating the tested model with existing
systems to make it available to users, management or other purposes. This also
involves testing the model in a real-world scenario.
Two important factors that have to be checked before deploying are whether
the model is portable i.e, the ability to transfer the software from one machine
to another and scalable i.e, the model need not be redesigned to maintain
performance.

Monitor and Maintenance

Monitoring in machine learning involves techniques to measure the model
performance metrics and to detect issues in the models. After an issue is
detected, the model has to be trained with new data or the architecture has to
be modified.
Sometimes when the issue detected in the designed model cannot be solved
with training it with new data, the issue becomes the problem statement. So,
the machine learning life cycle revamps from analyzing the problem again to
develop an improved model.
The machine learning life cycle is an iterative process, and it may be necessary
to revisit previous stages to improve the model's performance or address new
requirements. By following the machine learning life cycle, data scientists can
ensure that their machine learning models are effective, accurate, and meet the
business requirements