3 ms·
Decision tree models are trained by a machine learning algorithm that a human implemented. DTrees don't create new algorithms, they are calculated/trained throu
by modriano 8y ago
Decision tree models are trained by a machine learning algorithm that a human implemented. DTrees don't create new algorithms, they are calculated/trained through the application of an algorithm on data.
You can find these DTree-generating algorithms in any decent machine learning algorithm textbook, and you can execute the steps by hand. For example, on page 56 (or pdf page 68) of [0], you can step through the ID3 decision tree algorithm. At no point is a new algorithm generated.
[0]: https://www.cs.ubbcluj.ro/~gabis/ml/ml-books/McGrawHill%20-%20Machine%20Learning%20-Tom%20Mitchell.pdf https://www.cs.ubbcluj.ro/~gabis/ml/ml-books/McGrawHill%20-%...
- currymj 8y agoto my understanding, a bunch of nested if-else statements is an algorithm, and if you change all the conditions in the if statements, you get a different algorithm. so e.g. ID3 is an algorithm, designed by a human, that produces new algorithms, only indirectly designed by a human. we may be talking past each other, though. i just think it's reasonable to apply the word "algorithm" to things that are simple/stupid enough to be generated automatically, and so it's no big deal to talk about algorithms writing algorithms.
- jcoffland 8y ago> to my understanding, a bunch of nested if-else statements is an algorithm A bunch of nested if-else statements can be reduced to a boolean expression and a boolean expression is hardly an algorithm. If you change the conditions you simply get a different result not a new algorithm.