Introducing machine learning

Machine learning is the science of making machines work without programming predefined rules. Let's go through a simple example of how a program is written with a regular approach and a machine learning approach. For example, if you are developing a spam filter. You need to identify all possible parameters at design time and hardcode them within the program as follows:

spam_words = ("No investment", "Why pay more?", "You are a winner!", "Free quote")

import sys
for line in sys.stdin:
    if spam_words in line:
        print "Spam Found"
    else:
        process_lines()

In machine learning, computers will learn from the data we provide and make a decision on these spam words. Machine learning is similar to human learning. Let's understand how humans learn.

Humans learn something by doing a task over and over again, which is known as practice. Humans gain experience by practicing something. They get better at the task with more and more practice. Humans are considered...