Want to learn machine learning in 15 minutes? Start here...

If you’ve heard the excitement about machine learning, but aren’t quite sure how it could apply to your business, the best way forward is to rip off the cover and see it working for yourself. Machine learning models can be used to improve efficiencies, identify risks or new opportunities and have applications across many …

[Anonymous Coward]

Thank you for a very informative and straight to the point article with a real world use for machine learning.

I've lost count of the number of times I've seen "AI" bandied about for things like toasters (ok, maybe an exaggeration)

I'm already conjuring the data sets for this in my head as it can apply to my line of work though the data cleaning and selection is going to be a pain as if you teach it wrong then it's always going to be wrong. It would be interesting to try and calculate error rates based on the learning input to know roughly what you would be striving for though I would assume you would want 0 errors. On the other hand if you get the input based on your current data and outcome then it would be as good as what you have already. Lots to think about.

[Anonymous Coward]

"...though the data cleaning and selection is going to be a pain as if you teach it wrong then it's always going to be wrong."

Good point - perhaps a suitable job for an AI?

[Anonymous Coward]

Teach AI to do AI, that's some outfield thinking right there sir.

Where would it end? AI teaching AI to teach AI to AI. There's Skynet for you.

[Anonymous Coward]

I think Google have done this. No idea how it's results have ended up... as they went all quiet after that point.

[Anonymous Coward]

Obviously, once the machines had taken over they wanted to hide the fact that they're aware...for now. ;)

[Bibbit]

Tippity top!

15 minutes of my life well spent and I am tempted to learn more. Thank you for an informative and interesting article. More stuff like this on various subjects would be great.

[ma1010]

Yes, excellent

Thank you! This is a very useful article. More like this, please, El Reg

[Anonymous Coward]

Stop it at once

Dear Sirs,

An increasing number of people are relying on ignorance of these technologies to make their fortunes, either charging an arm-and-a-leg to clients, or persuading some unwitting VC company to overpay for their new shiny. How on Earth do you think this can continue if you persist in writing clear and accessible articles about all this that any of us can understand? Please act more responsibly in future.

Yours, etc etc.

[adampwells]

Great intro to ML!

Love your work - a very effective explanation of the basics. I have found that this is enough of an understanding to get useful stuff done.

I have recently implemented a process to rate inbound sales leads, following on from this article:

https://medium.com/xeneta/boosting-sales-with-machine-learning-fbcf2e618be3#.e7zvtsd4f

They actually published the sample project, so you can look like a hero by simply filling on some spreadsheets with "good" and "bad" customers, and pressing 'play'.

As the author said, much of the grunt work was in collecting and cleaning data...

[HKUSP45]

Is your data file posted somewhere, by chance?

Hello...excellent walk-through! I'd love to duplicate your results myself to be more familiar with the process. Is the .csv with the data posted somewhere, by chance? If I missed it in your write-up, I apologize...thank you again for a very short, neat tutorial!

[Dull Itch]

Excellent article

An intelligent, clear, concise and well written piece by someone who's obviously been there. Good read over tea and toast. A sequel would be appreciated. Objective. ;-)

Thank you. X