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

Amazon is using machine learning this season to identify pivotal situations, letting fans read the play and track open receivers in real time. —Chris Morris, Fortune, 16 Nov. 2023

To determine the best formula, the robot analyzed the data with machine learning algorithms and theoretical models. —Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Nov. 2023

The new technique hints at the benefits that machine learning on quantum computers may eventually bring, even though the field is still very new. —IEEE Spectrum, 15 Nov. 2023

Chantry hopes the machine learning community will keep throwing its researchers, industry money, and GPUs into improving weather forecasts, too. —WIRED, 14 Nov. 2023

The finding did not extend to images of people of color, likely due to AI models being trained predominantly on images of white individuals—a common bias that is well-known in machine learning research. —Benj Edwards, Ars Technica, 14 Nov. 2023

Advancements in machine learning algorithms and 3D printing may be able to shake up the field, Block and Alon said, bringing MRI costs down and energizing researchers on a budget. —Lizzy Lawrence, STAT, 13 Nov. 2023

Unlike a traditional thermostat, a smart thermostat can employ machine learning to recognize the user’s preferred settings, then automatically heating or cooling the home depending on these preferences. —Rennie Dyball, Peoplemag, 9 Nov. 2023

Using machine learning in production can result in real innovation. —WIRED, 6 Nov. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined at sense 1