Machine Learning Algorithms: A Beginner’s Guide

John Vastola
5 min readFeb 20, 2023

“Machine learning represents a key driver of technological progress and human prosperity in the decades to come.” — Andrew Ng

Photo by h heyerlein on Unsplash

Do you know what’s behind the recommendation engines on Netflix, the voice assistants in our smartphones, or the self-driving cars on our roads? It’s machine learning, a subfield of artificial intelligence that has the potential to transform virtually every industry and aspect of our lives.

In this beginner’s guide, we’ll explore the world of machine learning algorithms, the building blocks of machine learning models that enable computers to learn from data and make predictions or decisions without being explicitly programmed. We’ll cover the major types of algorithms and their applications, as well as tips for choosing the right algorithm for your problem.

Here’s what you can expect from this article:

  • An overview of machine learning and its importance
  • The major types of machine learning algorithms, including supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning
  • Examples of popular algorithms and their applications, from linear regression and k-means clustering to Q-learning and deep Q-networks
  • Factors to consider when selecting an algorithm for your problem, such as the size and quality…

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John Vastola

Data scientist, AI enthusiast, and self-help writer sharing insights on using data science and AI for good. johnvastola.medium.com/membership