Model-Based Machine Learning (2023)

Preface

Introduction to the book, who it is for and how to read it.

How can machine learning solve my problem?

What model-based machine learning is and how it helps solve problems.

1. A Murder Mystery

Introduces all the essential concepts of model-based machine learning, in the course of solving a murder.

2. Assessing People's Skills

A first application of model-based machine learning: assessing what skills a person has based on their answers in a test.

Interlude: the machine learning life cycle

The typical steps in solving any machine learning problem.

3. Meeting Your Match

A real-world application of model-based machine learning to the problem of matching players in online games.

4. Uncluttering Your Inbox

A model that removes the clutter from a user's inbox by learning which emails they are likely to ignore.

5. Making Recommendations

Learning a model of people and movies, so they can be matched together to make useful recommendations.

6. Understanding Asthma

Modelling the way children acquire allergies, to understand and predict childhood asthma.

7. Harnessing the Crowd

A model that uses crowd-sourced labels to provide accurate information in crisis situations.

8. How to Read a Model

Exploring models created by other people to understand the assumptions they are making.

Afterword

Some final thoughts on the future of model-based machine learning.