brAInfood: 2 popular services that use machine learning algorithms

Date of publication: January 2021 / update: May 2024

WHAT IS THIS BRAINFOOD ABOUT?

This brAInfood starts with a short explanation of some key concepts that are often used when talking about algorithms. After outlining these concepts, we take a closer look at some machine learning algorithms used by two popular services: Netflix and navigation applications. With these two concrete examples, we hope to give you more insight into what machine learning algorithms are and especially what they can do.

WHY SHOULD I READ THIS?

You have probably heard of algorithms already, but are you still unsure what they can do? Then this brAInfood can be of interest to you. In this brAInfood, we will not go into the theory of algorithms, but we will use two practical examples of popular services to show you what algorithms can do and why they are useful.

WHAT CAN I FIND OUT WHEN READING THIS?

This brAInfood of the Knowledge Centre Data & Society includes:

• A brief explanation of some key concepts (e.g. algorithm, model, technique);
• A brief description of the machine learning algorithms used by Netflix;
  

• A brief description of the machine learning algorithms used by navigation applications.