Based on an article from SAS, Machine learning is an aspect of artificial intelligence and is used as a data analysis method. It is built on the notion that systems can learn from data and can identify patterns and make decisions without much intervention from humans. It is a specific area of artificial intelligence that trains machines how to learn.
Machine learning evolved from pattern recognition and the assumption that computers have the ability to learn outside of being encoded to perform particular functions. Repetition is important to machine learning and allows computers to independently adapt as new data is introduced. The machines build upon previous calculations which they use to generate reliable results. A recent development in machine learning is that it enables computers to use complex mathematical calculations repeatedly at an increasingly faster rate.
While machine learning is not a new concept, it is trending based on the ever-increasing body and diversity of data that is available. It is therefore now possible to generate computer models that can evaluate increasingly complex data and yield quicker and more accurate results. The article listed some widely publicized examples of machine learning applications, among them being the self-driving Google car, online recommendation offers such as those from Amazon and Netflix, and fraud detection.
You may be interested in learning more about machine learning. For your benefit, eCornell (Cornell University’s online learning platform), offers an Ivy League certificate in Machine Learning.