Machine Learning: Harnessing the Predictive Power of Computers

It has worked its way into our daily lives, from voice assistants like Siri and Alexa to traffic apps that guide us around gridlock, cars that drive themselves and news stories that pop up on our social media feeds. Researchers in the University of Maryland's College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences work at the forefront of machine learning technology, where computers analyze data to identify patterns and make decisions with minimal human intervention. These faculty members are using machine learning for applications that touch many aspects of our lives--from weather prediction and health care to transportation, finance and wildlife conservation. Along the way, they are advancing the science of exactly how computers learn. The shift from a cash economy to one reliant on electronic transactions has left many consumers feeling vulnerable to identity theft and bank fraud. And it's no wonder--in 2018, the Federal Trade Commission received over 440,000 reports of identity theft, largely from stolen credit card and social security numbers. For any consumer, that figure is concerning.