> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://vikram-bajaj.gitbook.io/cs-gy-6923-machine-learning/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://vikram-bajaj.gitbook.io/cs-gy-6923-machine-learning/chapter1.md).

# What is Machine Learning?

Machine Learning is the field of study that deals with making computers "learn" from data/experience.

## Main Use Cases

Machine Learning is mainly useful in cases where:

* there is no human expertise available to solve a problem
* there is human expertise, but humans cannot explain the expertise well enough (if at all) to be able to hard-code a program
* the solution changes with time
* a customized solution is required, ex. targeted marketing/advertising

## How is Machine Learning Getting Better?

Advances in ML are mainly owed to:

* the increased amounts of data
* the development of better algorithms
* the availability of cheap and more powerful computing resources