![[Featured Image]: A person wearing a white top and glasses. They have long brown hair. They are sitting in front of their laptop, holding a pen in their hand.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/4tZSTNxLECORUqNxshd5e6/4a6c90937c4214c1cb6df64d52b5d522/GettyImages-1319224209__1_.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
Is Machine Learning Hard? A Guide to Getting Started
Machine learning (ML), a fast-growing AI field, combines math, coding, and computer science. It powers tech like Netflix recommendations and speech-to-text. This guide covers ML basics, learning challenges, career paths, and how to start in the field.
June 10, 2022
Article

![[Feature image] Person examining data on two separate devices.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/1tsTbWFlMlWOzVe0erCQmd/6a71988e02a417ef3684db20fee3db99/iStock-973715860__1_.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image]: A machine learning enthusiast, wearing a blue jacket and glasses, stands in front of their computer, holding their phone.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/4KhEiZf1OH8X2QF9Kvpy72/f93b579b60e929814ceef21d354fe385/GettyImages-666890360__1_.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)



![[Featured Image]: A person with long dark hair, wearing a gray turtleneck sweater. They are sitting in front of two computer screens and are wearing white headphones.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/NlyyW0zofW1t3DomgmJK7/9ede874c333b04fc13e740142f0dab10/GettyImages-1332378553.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] An AI engineer with long dark hair in a gray striped shirt works in front of their computer screen in a shared office with lots of windows.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/1nYXE4h20tXKjNPrtHwcxs/2f24ddbbe69d2da0ea54715a801e66cb/GettyImages-1363841531_Java_vs_C__.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured image] Two coworkers discuss a project at a desktop computer.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/5lfhrwk0TzsKXV5Qz7SZsb/b1850c4e13ac644d409ebff40f639845/Stocksy_txpe0666ad4RLr200_Large_2772942.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured image] A machine learning engineer is looking at a program to ensure it practices machine learning fairness.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/pyTiG7pfOrzRwVyiCMmwF/7fda6d2b6ba2ea2668d6449fea751cf5/UChicago_Machine_Learning_MasterTrack.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured image] Two machine learning professionals discuss machine learning algorithms on their computer.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/68XzvtNS9fUByI9ExzX9ym/c9ed8c2e16f7f77af0c8520e1f6b4d19/GettyImages-1171809453.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A deep learning engineer studies deep learning models and determines how to improve their accuracy.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/uhIykZbTU3H9bKZYU57aL/f212b929f4f92e87f49457619497431e/GettyImages-2044493481.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A group of people are having a meeting at a table.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/5RwF6NjaH8muS9dJ96fvN/cd4e85d7975ebd08f683c4f1defd4ea7/GYcB72pc.jpeg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A person stands in a darkened room lined with video monitors and reviews information on a tablet.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/7BZWq0ypXB4NwExJR2xhpw/fe73edc6489721113ee27b36fe52cf5d/I8yfBX70.jpeg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] Two machine learning engineers discuss the best algorithm to use for their statistical model.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/3PejLunbYM1nAYHneXeDW1/f1ac6a70dfe2509cbac0b95322c7af62/GettyImages-2025050043.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
