Week 3– BALT 4362 – Machine Learning Fundamentals

This week introduced me to the foundation of artificial intelligence: machine learning. I learned that machine learning allows computers to identify patterns in data and make decisions without being directly programmed. There are three main types: supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning. Supervised learning stood out the most because it uses labeled data to predict outcomes, which made it easier for me to understand compared to the others. I also worked in Google Colab to run a simple linear regression model. Even though I’m not a coding expert, I was able to follow along and understand what the code was doing by asking ChatGPT to explain each part. Seeing the model generate predictions and display a regression line made everything feel more real and practical. It helped me realize that AI isn’t just theory—it’s something I can actually use. Overall, this week built my confidence with AI. Instead of being overwhelmed, I started to see how these tools could apply to business and marketing, like predicting trends or customer behavior. I’m beginning to understand how AI can give companies a competitive edge by making smarter decisions with data.

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