Demystifying Machine Learning for Global Development (SSIR)

Machine learning is an increasingly prevalent buzzword in the media. Its applications in science and the private sector are frequently discussed--but what about global development? Can it also help advance fields like health, agriculture, and financial inclusion? That's because it can help us uncover previously invisible patterns in data, to identify the most effective solutions and target them in the right way. Machine learning (ML) has been around for decades, but now is our chance to apply it to development challenges in new ways, for three reasons.