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Doing machine learning without math is like programming without knowing about unit testing or data structures. Sure, you can get by. Good luck to anyone who has
by rfeather 9y ago
Doing machine learning without math is like programming without knowing about unit testing or data structures. Sure, you can get by. Good luck to anyone who has to live with what you've made.
- NumberCruncher 9y agoExactly. It is like running your own authentication system in production without deeper knowledge in CS. It works well, until it doesn't.
- randomdata 9y agoBut unit testing and data structures naturally follow as you progress as a developer, even if your early work is poor. Which supports the headline. The math will naturally follow as you gain experience with ML, but not having good data will make even just starting your journey difficult.
- rfeather 9y agoIn an academic/learning environment I agree. But, for professional purposes I wouldn't hire even an entry level person who didn't have at least enough of a basis to know when those concepts apply. I also wouldn't hire a data scientist who can't at least tell me the high level workings of an algorithm they might choose. I interview for both types of positions and know what it's like to have to compensate for an amateur.
- randomdata 9y ago> In an academic/learning environment I agree. That is where everyone starts though. With time, they will become the professionals that you want to hire.
- carvalho 9y agoMore like implementing a password hashing scheme using a library and not understanding the maths behind bcrypt. Or mocking up a proof-of-concept in Python with no idea of how to speed it up 10x rewriting it in low-level C.