INTRODUCTION TO MACHINE LEARNING
What Is Machine Learning?
Machine learning is programming computers to optimize a performance criterion using
example data or past experience. We have a model defined up to some parameters, and
learning is the execution of a computer program to optimize the parameters of the model
using the training data or past experience. The model may be predictive to make predictions
in the future, or descriptive to gain knowledge from data, or both.
Arthur Samuel, an early American leader in the field of computer gaming and artificial
intelligence, coined the term “Machine Learning” in 1959 while at IBM. He defined
machine learning as “the field of study that gives computers the ability to learn without
being explicitly programmed.” However, there is no universally accepted definition for
machine learning. Different authors define the term differently.
Definition of learning
Definition
A computer program is said to learn from experience E with respect to some class of tasks T
and performance measure P, if its performance at tasks T, as measured by P, improves with
experience E.
Examples
i) Handwriting recognition learning problem
• Task T: Recognising and classifying handwritten words within images
• Performance P: Percent of words correctly classified
• Training experience E: A dataset of handwritten words with given
classifications
ii) A robot driving learning problem
• Task T: Driving on highways using vision sensors
• Performance measure P: Average distance travelled before an error
• training experience: A sequence of images and steering commands recorded
while observing a human driver
iii) A chess learning problem
• Task T: Playing chess
• Performance measure P: Percent of games won against opponents
• Training experience E: Playing practice games against itself
Definition
A computer program which learns from experience is called a machine learning
program or simply a learning program. Such a program is sometimes also referred to as a
learner.
Traditional Programming Vs. Machine Learning
How does Machine Learning Works?
Features of Machine Learning
Machine learning uses data to detect various patterns in a given dataset.
It can learn from past data and improve automatically.
It is a data-driven technology.
Machine learning is much similar to data mining as it also deals with the huge
amount of the data.
Importance of Machine Learning
Rapid increment in the production of data
Solving complex problems, which are difficult for a human
Decision making in various sector including finance
Finding hidden patterns and extracting useful information from data.
Difference between AI & ML & DL
Components of Machine Learning
The learning process, whether by a human or a machine, can be divided into four
components, namely, data storage, abstraction, generalization and evaluation. Figure 1.1
illustrates the various components and the steps involved in the learning process.
1.Data storage
Facilities for storing and retrieving huge amounts of data are an important component of the
learning process. Humans and computers alike utilize data storage as a foundation for
advanced reasoning.
• In a human being, the data is stored in the brain and data is retrieved using electrochemical
signals.
• Computers use hard disk drives, flash memory, random access memory and similar
devices to store data and use cables and other technology to retrieve data.
2. Abstraction
The second component of the learning process is known as abstraction. Abstraction is the
process of extracting knowledge about stored data. This involves creating general concepts
about the data as a whole. The creation of knowledge involves application of known models
and creation of new models.
The process of fitting a model to a dataset is known as training. When the model has been
trained, the data is transformed into an abstract form that summarizes the original
information.
3. Generalization
The third component of the learning process is known as generalisation. The term
generalization describes the process of turning the knowledge about stored data into a form
that can be utilized for future action. These actions are to be carried out on tasks that are
similar, but not identical, to those what have been seen before. In generalization, the goal is
to discover those properties of the data that will be most relevant to future tasks.
4. Evaluation
Evaluation is the last component of the learning process. It is the process of giving feedback
to the user to measure the utility of the learned knowledge. This feedback is then utilised to
effect improvements in the whole learning process.
Applications of Machine Learning
The following is a list of some of the typical applications of machine learning.
1. In retail business, machine learning is used to study consumer behaviour.
2. In finance, banks analyse their past data to build models to use in credit applications,
fraud detection, and the stock market.
3. In manufacturing, learning models are used for optimization, control, and
troubleshooting.
4. In medicine, learning programs are used for medical diagnosis.
5. In telecommunications, call patterns are analysed for network optimization and
maximizing the quality of service.
6. In science, large amounts of data in physics, astronomy, and biology can only be analysed
fast enough by computers. The World Wide Web is huge; it is constantly growing and
searching for relevant information cannot be done manually.
7. In artificial intelligence, it is used to teach a system to learn and adapt to changes so that
the system designer need not foresee and provide solutions for all possible situations.
8. It is used to find solutions to many problems in vision, speech recognition, and robotics.
9. Machine learning methods are applied in the design of computer-controlled vehicles to
steer correctly when driving on a variety of roads.
10. Machine learning methods have been used to develop programmes for playing games
such as chess, backgammon and Go.
