Building machine learning projects involves a cyclical process of data collection, model iteration, deployment, and reevaluation of results.
To determine if machine learning is appropriate for a business problem, it needs to be aligned as a machine learning problem first.
The major types of machine learning are supervised, unsupervised, transfer learning, and reinforcement learning, with supervised and unsupervised learning being most common in business applications.
Supervised learning involves training a model with labeled data to predict outcomes, while unsupervised learning deals with data lacking labels to uncover patterns.
Transfer learning adapts an existing model's learned information to a new problem domain, saving time and resources in training.
For business applications, machine learning usually falls under classification, regression, or recommendation categories based on the problem at hand.
Important considerations in machine learning projects include data types (structured, unstructured), feature variables, and the choice of evaluation metrics based on project goals (classification, regression, recommendation).
Feature types in machine learning include categorical, continuous, derived, and can also encompass text, images, or any data that can be transformed into numbers.
The modeling phase includes selecting a model based on interpretability, scalability, and efficiency, tuning the model to improve performance, and comparing models for optimal results.
Model evaluation involves testing on different data subsets to ensure proper learning and generalization, with documentation and iteration being key components of the process.
Starting with a proof of concept using the outlined steps can help businesses determine the feasibility of applying machine learning to add value to their operations.