Machine learning will have a huge impact on business and society but at present is "still a cottage industry", says Professor Bob Williamson, chief scientist of CSIRO's Data 61 group. There's been a resurgence of interest in machine learning in recent years. Though it's not a new concept, factors like Big Data, the availability of more powerful computational processing and cheaper data storage, means more CIOs are investigating its applications. Speaking at a SAS customer event in Sydney, Williamson outlined the need for those working in the field to better share and standardise their work. There's very little reuse," he explained. "Plenty of my colleagues will do things from scratch.