machine learning

noun

1

: a computational method that is a subfield of artificial intelligence and that enables a computer to learn to perform tasks by analyzing a large dataset without being explicitly programmed

The company is curating the overall topics manually, but Twitter will be relying on machine learning to intelligently populate the topics themselves so that the tweets can stay up to date.

—Lucas Matney

Unsupervised learning, also known as unsupervised machine learning, uses machine learning algorithms to analyze and cluster unlabeled datasets. These algorithms discover hidden patterns or data groupings without the need for human intervention.

—IBM

Supervised machine learning requires labeled data to adjust the parameters of the model during training. … But without quality training data, supervised learning models will end up making poor inferences.

—Ben Dickson

Reinforcement machine learning trains machines through trial and error to take the best action by establishing a reward system. Reinforcement learning can train models to play games or train autonomous vehicles to drive by telling the machine when it made the right decisions, which helps it learn over time what actions it should take.

—Sara Brown

2

: the branch of computer science that employs machine learning

An entire subspecialty known as machine learning is devoted to building algorithms that allow computers to develop new behaviors based on experience.

—Adam Piore

While many scholars in the developing field of machine learning were focused on improving algorithms, [Cynthia] Rudin instead wanted to use AI's power to help society.

—Duke University

—abbreviation ML

Examples of machine learning in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Researchers used machine learning to analyze 469 contact, greeting and caregiving rumbles made by wild savanna elephants in Kenya and discovered that the animals use specific vocal labels to identify one another. —Marta Zaraska, Scientific American, 10 June 2024

Valuable data can also be derived from the choices developers make when designing models, including hyperparameters (which guide how a machine learning model learns during training) and weights (the numerical values that help the model make its predictions). —Rachel Ventresca, Fortune, 7 June 2024

Applying machine learning to smells Machine learning, and particularly a kind of machine learning called deep learning, is at the core of remarkable advances such as voice assistants and facial recognition apps. —Ambuj Tewari, The Conversation, 30 May 2024

Nulty said the company is using machine learning to automatically flag some reservations. —David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 24 May 2024

And using machine learning in this way to analyze data is generally much less energy-intensive than generative AI models that spit out text and images. —Justine Calma, The Verge, 29 May 2024

Has the city explored using AI and machine learning tools to shrink department sizes and speed up reviews? —Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2024

As of now, machine learning experts are somewhat divided about exactly how risky further development of artificial intelligence technology is. —Anna Gordon, TIME, 13 May 2024

After the human brain sample was stained, sliced and imaged in Lichtman’s lab, Google’s engineers applied machine learning to stitch those slices back together and apply colors to render the wiring visible to the naked eye. —Adam Piore — Boston Globe, STAT, 10 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined at sense 1