Machine Learning has rightly become one of the most popular technologies around and according to Artificial Intelligence (AI) researchers, every single thing ranging from our food, to our jobs, to the software we write will be affected by it. And if you are a beginner looking to build a career in this field, it’s necessary that you understand the prerequisites for Machine Learning. But this knowledge about prerequisites for Machine Learning is not only for freshers in the field but also for anyone who owns or is looking to start a business! Confused?
Well, If businesses don’t understand the importance of Machine Learning soon enough, they will experience a world of trouble. In the future, the emergence of Machine Learning will be hailed as a very significant milestone. Machine Learning, which is a part of AI, enables computers to learn from data without being explicitly programmed. And today, Machine Learning has established itself as the key to unlocking the value of customer data.
Facebook’s ability to recognize our faces, Netflix’s movie recommendations, Google’s self-driving cars are early examples of Machine Learning solutions. Given the large untapped potential of this innovation, creating a strategic roadmap can serve well in building Machine Learning capabilities that will definitely help in creating value for your business.
In order to get started with Machine Learning, you require to have little knowledge of the mathematical concepts. Except for the necessary programming efficiency, you also need to be familiar with the basic mathematical theories to fully understand how algorithms function in the background. Here’s the list of some principal topics you need to understand before you engage yourself in machine learning.
This article will help you with the different concepts that you need to know before you get started with Machine Learning.
Prerequisites For Machine Learning
Firstly, you must grasp the following concepts:
- Basic Mathematics
- Statistics
- Probability
- Linear Algebra
- Data Modeling
- Calculus
- Programming Languages
Let’s dig right in.
Basic Mathematics
The prime importance of Maths in Machine Learning can’t be exaggerated, yet the extent of its usefulness depends upon a particular project. Beginners don’t need to grasp it in-depth because you only need to learn the implementation of the algorithms using the given tools.
It would be difficult to understand the working of algorithms without proper knowledge about multivariable calculus or linear algebra. And if you desire to make a career in Machine Learning, then you will at some point have to build algorithms yourself. Hence, linear algebra, and multivariable calculus are very important.
Statistics
Statistics deals with applied mathematics concerned with data collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation. Machine Learning algorithms are hugely based on statistics. Therefore, it will help you to have some knowledge of statistical theory, like Bayes rule, independence, among others. Statistics uses tools that are used to get an outcome from data. The descriptive statistics that is used to transform raw data into important information. Then there is inferential statistics that is used to get important information from a data sample instead of using a complete dataset.
Probability
Probability and Statistics are related fields. Probability is a mathematical method employed for statistical analysis. Hence we can say that probability and statistics are interconnected branches that deal with analysing the relative frequency of events. It is the ratio of desired outcomes to total outcomes:
Desired Outcomes / Total Outcomes
It is important to learn probability before diving into Machine Learning because it helps in predicting the likelihood of the occurrences. Therefore, in Machine Learning, probability lays a solid foundation.
Linear Algebra
Linear algebra deals with vector operations, linear transformations, and matrices. Linear Algebra holds a significant position when it comes to Machine Learning because it can be used to perform operations or transform the dataset.
Data Modeling
It is the process of estimating the structure of a data set. It is used to find out patterns or variations within the set. Major chunk of Machine Learning is usually built on predictive modeling, and therefore with Data Modeling, you would know how to predict different properties of the data. Sometimes, iterative learning algorithms result in magnifying the errors in the set and the model, therefore knowledge of data modeling becomes necessary.
Calculus
Calculus is one of the most significant fields in mathematics as it plays an integral role in many Machine Learning algorithms. Calculus plays an important role in building the Machine Learning Model. Often people working on bleeding edge tools employ calculus, linear algebra, and advanced math routinely in their work.
Programming Language
Before getting into Machine Learning, it is essential that you know programming languages like R and Python in order to implement the whole process. Python and R provide built-in libraries making it easy to implement Machine Learning algorithms. Apart from basic programming knowledge, it is also imperative that you learn how to extract, process and analyze data. Programming Languages is the one of primary skills needed for Machine Learning.
How Machine Learning Can Influence Business
Given that the large potential of Machine Learning is still untapped, the following shows different ways in which Machine Learning can benefit a business:
1. Customization of a User’s Experience
Everything a person sees can be customized for them. It can even anticipate their needs and behaviors in advance and include personalized recommendations for products or services.
2. Identify Trends, Predict and Estimate on Large Scale
Machine Learning can identify trends in data well before humans. It can also be used in making predictions that otherwise might require great level of expertise like pricing a home or make impossible predictions such as which content will do well on social media.
3. Visually Identify Objects and Tailor Experiences Accordingly
Objects can be identified visually through photos, videos which can be used to automate a customer’s experience accordingly.
4. Detect Unusual Activity or System Failure
Machine Learning can not just detect when an issue arises, but also recognize whether that issue is unusual or alarming. This can be very useful in monitoring and security systems.
How Machine Learning Benefit Businesses
1. Help in Expansion Of Business
The right data can help you recognize new business opportunities and create new products and services for your customers.
2. Enhanced User Experience
Machine Learning quickly and efficiently help you find products and services that will most likely to be relevant for your users. This is bound to enhance the user experience and make your business a profitable one.
3. Help Make Informed Business Decisions
Machine Learning can save your time and money by making your investments more effective through scientific methods
Where To Begin?
The very first step would be of hiring the right talent for the job. And better still you can any day outsource all this to a team that can actually make this all work for you and help you meet your business objectives.
Web Development Services:
You can hire a Web Development company that can fulfill all your requirements related to business website. Look for a company that can handle the building of all kinds of static or dynamic, responsive or an e-commerce site.
App Development Services:
To cater to your App Development needs hire a team of professional app developers who can build a perfect mobile app as per your business requirements and demands. Look for a team that can build professional mobile applications for all platforms including iOS and Android.
Chatbot Services:
A chatbot can help any business increase its reach and traffic. It is a virtual assistant that can be integrated within an app, website or messenger. Hire a team of professionals who have in the past successfully built several such conversational agents and is willing to design an exclusive Chatbot which incorporates all your personal business needs.
Growth Hacking:
For a successful enterprise, it is important that your business organization makes growth in the right direction. And a team of professional growth hackers can help in your company’s growth through their various strategies and methodologies that can help you maximize your ROI in a short period of time.
Conclusion
Machine Learning is already here and it is safe to say that it is going to be our future. The sooner you integrate this technology into your business the better. Moreover, solving business problems with Machine Learning is easier than most people think. Machine Learning is the key to unlocking remarkable business value and develop a long-term competitive advantage for your business.