A Clear Definition of Machine Learning GovLoop

There's a lot of buzz about machine learning in government today, given its potential to improve operations, cut costs and produce better program outcomes. But what exactly is it? Machine learning, or ML, is a collection of algorithms and mathematical models used by computer systems to progressively improve their performance on a specific task. Machine learning algorithms build a mathematical model of sample data, known as training data, in order to make predictions or decisions, without being explicitly programmed to perform the task. Put more simply, machine learning is when computer systems use data to train themselves to perform certain actions – rather than requiring humans to do the same work. Machine learning is part of a larger discipline called artificial intelligence (AI).