Chapter 10. How to Tell If Your Toaster Is Learning – Machine Learning Essentials

Machine learning has become quite the phrase of the decade. It seems as though every time we hear about the next greatest startup or turn on the news, we hear something about a revolutionary piece of machine learning technology and how it will change the way we live.

This chapter focuses on machine learning as a practical part of data science. We will cover the following topics in this chapter:

• Defining the different types of machine learning, along with examples of each kind

• Areas in regression, classification, and more

• What is machine learning and how it is used in data science

• The differences between machine learning and statistical modeling and how machine learning is a broader category of the latter

Our aim will be to utilize statistics, probability, and algorithmic thinking in order to understand and apply essential machine learning skills to practical industries, such as marketing. Examples will include predicting...