In many ways, these techniques automate tasks that researchers have done by hand for years. Our latest video explainer – part of our Methods 101 series – explains the basics of machine learning and ...

Machine learning is the process of teaching a computer how to recognize and find patterns in large amounts of data. It can then use this knowledge to make predictions on future data.

When we talk about machine learning, we’re mostly referring to extremely clever algorithms. In 1950 mathematician Alan Turing argued that it’s a waste of time to ask whether machines can think.

His approach to machine learning “still would work pretty well as a description of what’s known as ‘reinforcement learning,’ one of the basket of machine-learning techniques that has ...