How to approach machine learning as a non-technical person

Aria is the CTO and Chief Architect at Pioneer Square Labs. The last few years have seen an explosion of interest in machine learning technology and potential applications. As a non-expert, you've probably either had to assess ML technology for your product and business or as a potential investment. The jargon around ML technology is vast, confusing and, unfortunately, increasingly being hijacked by overeager sales teams. This post is not a primer on ML technology; this post won't pretend to give you an explanation of deep learning or any specific technology, because these concepts change frequently and are largely irrelevant to much of the decision making.