June 18: Machine Learning

 Machine Learning

Dr. Schuman's Seminar on Machine Learning and its Applications

For this class period, Dr. Schuman, who has a PhD in computer science, shared her team's latest research efforts on machine learning. Machine learning requires a system to utilize training data in order to apply it to new situations that are unlike any that the system has seen before. This process requires machines to actually learn rather than memorizing specific outcomes, and because of this they can adapt. Adaptation is important for creating automated systems such as the self-driving car that Dr. Schuman's team is experimenting with.

She also mentioned that the training data that fuels these machines is provided by ordinary people every day. The data given from simply browsing the web helps machine learning tailor advertisements and other media towards its audience. Machine learning is beginning to be based more and more off of human intelligence as Dr. Schuman noted that they are modeling these systems to be like human neurons. This formation will allow these machines to process information in a more energy efficient way, just like people.