Machine learning is a branch of artificial intelligence which involves the design and development of systems capable of self-improvements showing an improvement in performance based upon their previous experiences. In other words, these systems can learn by processes similar to human learning process.

Machine learning algorithms can be classified into two broad categories, supervised and the unsupervised. In supervised learning algorithms, the training data includes both inputs and outputs. The outputs (answers to the problems) are known as targets. These in supervising the machine learning model as it tries to identify trends and patterns underlying your data. In unsupervised learning algorithms, the training data includes inputs only. he targets are not provided. The answers to the inputs have to be discovered through a deep search.

There are a number of steps which must be followed during the course of machine learning. These include collecting and preparing the data and training, validating, and then applying the model. When all these steps are completed, you will be able to use your model to make predictions. Machine learning is a new and growing field, and its emergence is a promising answer to the unimaginable quantities of data which will be generated by organizations and individuals during the upcoming years.

The predictive capacity of the various machine learning algorithms, is most attractive to businesses, who are rushing to incorporate machine learning into their day-to-day operations. Machine learning can help businesses predict future performance and make necessary adjustments in order to remain stable and even to increase profits.

This guide has been complied to take you through the basics of machine learning that includes artificial intelligence, big data and machine learning with python. Here are some of the chapters covered;