BigMLer in da Cloud: Machine Learning made even easier by Martin Prats.
From the post:
We have open-sourced BigMLer, a command line tool that will let you create predictive models much easier than ever before.
BigMLer wraps BigML’s API Python bindings to offer a high-level command-line script to easily create and publish Datasets and Models, create Ensembles, make local Predictions from multiple models, and simplify many other machine learning tasks. BigMLer is open sourced under the Apache License, Version 2.0.
“…will let you create predictive models much easier than ever before.”
Well…., true, but the amount of effort you invest in a predictive model has a relationship to the usefulness of the model for some given purpose.
It is a great idea to create an easy “on ramp” to introduce machine learning. But it may lead some users to confuse “…easier than ever before” models with professionally crafted models.
An old friend confided their organization was about to write a classification system for a well know subject. Exciting to think they will put all past errors to rest while adding new capabilities.
But in reality librarians have labored in such areas for centuries. It isn’t an good target for a start-up project. Particularly for those innocent of existing classification systems and the theory/praxis that drove their creation.
Librarians didn’t invent the Internet. If they had, we wouldn’t be searching for ways to curate information on the Internet, in a backwards compatible way.
Patrick, you are spot on stating “the amount of effort you invest in a predictive model has a relationship to the usefulness of the model for some given purpose”. BigML does not intend to replace the professionalism of ML experts. There are ‘given purposes’ that require very specific modeling.
Fortunately, there is a large segment of purposes left that can do with more basic models. As long as these models can be generated in a simple way and add value it is worth the effort.
Much appreciate your constructive comments on our service! Thanks.
Jos Verwoerd, Co-founder BigML.
Comment by Jos Verwoerd — December 10, 2012 @ 4:42 am