AIExplainer
Machine Learning Intermediate 2 min read

What is supervised machine learning?

A type of machine learning where the AI system is trained on labeled data to make predictions

Supervised machine learning is a way of teaching AI systems to make decisions by showing them examples of correct decisions. The AI system learns from these examples and can then apply what it has learned to new, unseen data.

Think of supervised machine learning like teaching a child to recognize different types of animals. You show the child pictures of cats and dogs, and tell them which is which. After a while, the child can look at a new picture and say 'that's a cat' or 'that's a dog'. The AI system learns in a similar way, but with data instead of pictures.

A company like Google uses supervised machine learning to train its image recognition system. The system is shown millions of labeled images, and then it can recognize objects in new images. For example, it can recognize a picture of a cat and label it as 'cat'.

Supervised machine learning is used in applications such as image recognition, speech recognition, and natural language processing. It's also used in predictive modeling, such as forecasting sales or predicting customer behavior.

One common misconception is that supervised machine learning requires a large amount of labeled data. While it's true that more data can be helpful, it's not always necessary. Another misconception is that supervised machine learning is only used for simple tasks, when in fact it can be used for complex tasks like predictive modeling.

The concept of supervised machine learning has been around since the 1950s, but it wasn't until the 1980s that it started to gain popularity. With the advent of big data and advances in computing power, supervised machine learning has become a key tool in the field of AI.

machine learning with labeled data trained machine learning predictive modeling

Three products for different needs — explore what’s relevant to you.