AI for the Rest of Us

Welcome to our first official journey together into the fascinating world of artificial intelligence (AI).

Week 2 newsletter: what is machine learning

Last week, we embarked on our AI adventure by asking the fundamental question - What is AI? This week, we dive a little deeper, exploring one of AI's most essential and widely used components: machine learning.

So, what is machine learning? You may have heard the term before, but it can seem a bit daunting. Let's simplify it with a relatable analogy.

Imagine learning to ride a bike. On your first try, you probably fell off a few times, right? But every time you fell, your brain collected data about what didn't work. You adjusted your balance, your pedal speed, your steering, and slowly but surely, you got the hang of it. Over time, with practice, you became proficient. This is a lot like how machine learning works.

Machine Learning is a subset of AI where machines, like your brain did, learn from experience. They take in data, learn from it, adjust their strategies, and improve their performance over time. They don’t need explicit programming; instead, they "learn" from the data they're fed, progressively improving their ability to make predictions or decisions.

We have a fantastic video for you this week from the Museum of Science, Boston, where they discuss machine learning in the context of AI. It’s a quick watch, under 5 minutes, and presents machine learning in an engaging and digestible way.

The video highlights how machine learning allows computers to recognise patterns, make decisions, and even make predictions, all without being explicitly programmed to do so. It's the same principle that allows online shopping platforms to recommend products you might like, based on your past purchases.

Machine learning is an integral part of many technologies we use every day, from email spam filters to voice assistants. It's the invisible engine that powers numerous AI applications, making our interactions with technology smarter, more intuitive, and more personalised.

If you’ve got more time and want to read in a bit more depth about this week’s topic, we recommend:

1. Guardian: AI use widened to assess universal credit applications and tackle fraud

2. Psychology Today: AI Machine Learning Predicts Alzheimer’s Disease Risk

3. Charged (retail tech news): Amazon used machine learning-based detection to block 800,000 fraudulent selling accounts

As we delve further into AI in the coming weeks, we'll continue to break down complex topics into digestible nuggets, explore how AI is transforming our world, and answer your questions. Remember, this journey is as much yours as it is ours. Your curiosity and questions drive our mission.

Please do share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions with us. We're thrilled to be on this journey with you. Let's continue to demystify AI together.

Until next week …

Warren and Mark

Leaders of AI For The Rest of Us and your curators of AI knowledge