What Machine Learning Is

Machine learning is a way of building systems that learn patterns from data instead of being explicitly programmed with every rule. In this lesson, Professor Nathan Ward explains the core idea behind machine learning, how it differs from traditional software, and where it fits in real-world products. You will also learn the main ingredients of an ML system, common types of machine learning, and what machine learning can and cannot do well.

This lesson gives you the conceptual foundation you need before moving into data, model training, evaluation, and practical workflows in later lessons.