AI systems that learn and improve from data
Machine Learning is a subset of artificial intelligence that enables computer systems to automatically learn and improve their performance on specific tasks through experience, without being explicitly programmed for each possible outcome. Unlike traditional programming where developers write specific instructions for every scenario, machine learning systems identify patterns in data and make predictions or decisions based on statistical analysis and algorithmic learning.
Machine learning serves as the foundational technology underlying most modern AI applications, from recommendation systems and fraud detection to natural language processing and computer vision. The field encompasses various approaches including supervised learning (learning from labeled examples), unsupervised learning (finding patterns in unlabeled data), and reinforcement learning (learning through interaction and feedback).
In legal contexts, machine learning has gained significance due to its widespread deployment in consequential decision-making systems, its potential for algorithmic bias and discrimination, and the challenges it poses for traditional liability frameworks that assume predictable, rule-based system behavior.
Machine learning encompasses several distinct approaches, each suited to different types of problems and data. Supervised learning uses labeled training data to learn mappings between inputs and desired outputs, enabling systems to make predictions about new, unseen data. Common supervised learning tasks include classification (categorizing inputs into discrete categories) and regression (predicting continuous numerical values).
Unsupervised learning discovers hidden patterns or structures in data without labeled examples, including clustering similar data points, dimensionality reduction for data visualization, and anomaly detection for identifying unusual patterns. Reinforcement learning enables systems to learn optimal behavior through trial and error interactions with an environment, receiving rewards or penalties based on their actions.
The distinction between machine learning and deep learning is important for legal analysis. While deep learning represents a specific subset of machine learning using neural networks with multiple layers, traditional machine learning includes simpler algorithms such as decision trees, support vector machines, and linear regression that may be more interpretable and explainable than deep learning systems.
Machine learning systems present unique legal challenges that differ from traditional software applications. The statistical nature of machine learning means that these systems make probabilistic rather than deterministic decisions, complicating traditional legal concepts of causation and foreseeability. When machine learning systems make erroneous decisions, determining liability requires understanding statistical accuracy rates rather than simple right-or-wrong outcomes.
The EU AI Act addresses machine learning systems primarily through risk-based classifications, with higher-risk applications facing more stringent requirements. Machine learning systems used in employment, credit decisions, law enforcement, and healthcare typically fall into high-risk categories requiring conformity assessments, risk management systems, and human oversight.
Employment law implications are particularly significant, as machine learning systems used in hiring, performance evaluation, and termination decisions must comply with anti-discrimination statutes. The challenge lies in ensuring that these systems do not create disparate impact on protected classes while acknowledging that perfect algorithmic fairness may be mathematically impossible.
European Union, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act), Official Journal of the European Union, L 1689, 12 July 2024. IBM, "What is Machine Learning?" (2025). Various academic and legal sources addressing machine learning applications and their regulatory implications.