Author Archives: Ajitesh Kumar

Ajitesh Kumar

I have been recently working in the area of Data analytics including Data Science and Machine Learning / Deep Learning. I am also passionate about different technologies including programming languages such as Java/JEE, Javascript, Python, R, Julia, etc, and technologies such as Blockchain, mobile computing, cloud-native technologies, application security, cloud computing platforms, big data, etc. I would love to connect with you on Linkedin. Check out my latest book titled as First Principles Thinking: Building winning products using first principles thinking.

Random Forest Classifier – Sklearn Python Example

random forest classifier machine learning

Last updated: 14th Aug, 2024 A random forest classifier is an ensemble machine learning model which is used for classification problems, and operates by constructing a multitude of decision trees during training, and, predicting the class label (of the data). In general, Random Forest is popular due to its high accuracy, robustness to overfitting, ability to handle large datasets with numerous features, and its effectiveness for both classification and regression tasks. Random Forest and Decision Tree classification algorithms are different, although Random Forest is built upon the concept of Decision Trees. In this post, you will learn about the concepts of random forest classifiers and how to train a Random …

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Posted in AI, Data Science, Machine Learning, Python. Tagged with , , .

Decision Tree Regression vs Linear Regression: Differences

Decision tree example

When it comes to building a regression model, one comes across the question such as whether to train the regression model using DecisionTree Regressor algorithm or linear regression algorithm? The following is the key differences you need to know in order to decide which algorithm is the most suitable one, and, why and when one can use one over the other? Linear vs Non-Linear Dataset: Which Algorithm to Use? Linear regression algorithm can be used when there exists linear relationship between the response and predictor variables in the given data set. For two or three dimensional datasets, it is as easy as draw scatter plot and find about the said …

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Posted in Data Science, Machine Learning. Tagged with , .

Parametric vs Non-Parametric Models: Differences, Examples

Last updated: 11 Aug, 2024 When working with machine learning models, data scientists often come across a fundamental question: What sets parametric and non-parametric models apart?  What are the key differences between these two different classes of models? What needs to be done when working on these models? This is also one of the most frequent questions asked in the interviews. Machine learning models can be parametric or non-parametric. Parametric models are those that require the specification of some parameters before they can be used to make predictions, while non-parametric models do not rely on any specific parameter settings and therefore often produce more accurate results. These two distinct approaches …

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Posted in Data Science, Machine Learning. Tagged with , .

How to know if Linear Regression Model is Appropriate?

How to determine whether linear regression model is appropriate or valid

If you want to build a model for predicting a numerical value and wondering whether the linear regression model is most appropriate or valid, then creating the regression scatter plot is the most efficient way. And, this works best if the data set is two or three-dimensional. If a dataset is two-dimensional, it’s simple enough to plot the data to determine its shape. You can plot three-dimensional data too. The objective is to find whether the data set is relatively linear. When the plot is created, the data points fall roughly along a straight line as shown below. Whether Linear Regression Appropriate for High-dimension Datasets? The challenge comes when we …

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Posted in Data Science, Machine Learning. Tagged with , .

Lasso Regression in Machine Learning: Python Example

Last updated: 10th Aug, 2024 Lasso regression, sometimes referred to as L1 regularization, is a technique in linear regression that incorporates regularization to curb overfitting and enhance the performance of machine learning models. It works by adding a penalty term to the cost function that encourages the model to select only the most important features and set the coefficients of less important features to zero. This makes Lasso regression a popular method for feature selection and high-dimensional data analysis. In this post, you will learn concepts, formulas, advantages, and limitations of Lasso regression along with Python Sklearn examples. The other two similar forms of regularized linear regression are Ridge regression and …

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Posted in Data Science, Machine Learning, Python. Tagged with , , , .

Completion Model vs Chat Model: Python Examples

Completion model vs chat model

In this blog, we will learn about the concepts of completion and chat large language models (LLMs) with the help of Python examples. What’s the Completion Model in LLM? A completion model is a type of LLM that takes a text input and generates a text output, which is called a completion. In other words, a completion model is a type of LLM that generates text that continues from a given prompt or partial input. When provided with an initial piece of text, the model uses its trained knowledge to predict and generate the most likely subsequent text. A completion model can generate summaries, translations, stories, code, lyrics, etc depending on …

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Posted in Generative AI, Large Language Models, Machine Learning. Tagged with , , , .

LLM Hosting Strategy, Options & Cost: Examples

LLM Hosting Options Cost and Strategy

As part of laying down application architecture for LLM applications, one key focus area is LLM deployments. Related to LLM deployment is laying down LLM hosting strategy as part of which different hosting options need to be looked at, and evaluated based on various criteria including cost and appropriate hosting should be selected. In this blog, we will learn about different hosting options for different kinds of LLM and related strategies. LLM Hosting Cost depends on the type of LLM Needed What is going to be the cost related to LLM hosting depends upon the type of LLM we need for our application. LLM Hosting Cost for Proprietary Models If …

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Posted in AI, Large Language Models. Tagged with , , , .

Application Architecture for LLM Applications: Examples

LLM Application Architecture Components

Large language models (LLMs), also termed large foundation models (LFMs), in recent times have been enabling the creation of innovative software products that are solving a wide range of problems that were unimaginable until recent times. Different stakeholders in the software engineering and AI arena need to learn about how to create such LLM-powered software applications. And, the most important aspect of creating such apps is the application architecture of such LLM applications. In this blog, we will learn about key application architecture components for LLM-based applications. This would be helpful for product managers, software architects, LLM architects, ML engineers, etc. LLMs in the software engineering landscape are also termed …

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Posted in Large Language Models, Software Engg. Tagged with , , .

Python Pickle Security Issues / Risk

Python Pickle Security Issue Risk Vulnerabilities

Suppose your machine learning model is serialized as a Python pickle file and later loaded for making predictions. In that case, you need to be aware of security risks/issues associated with loading the Python Pickle file. Security Issue related to Python Pickle The Python pickle module is a powerful tool for serializing and deserializing Python object structures. However, its very power is also what makes it a potential security risk. When data is “pickled,” it is converted into a byte stream that can be written to a file or transmitted over a network. “Unpickling” this data reconstructs the original object in memory. The danger lies in the fact that unpickling …

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Posted in Application Security, Machine Learning, Python. Tagged with , .

Pricing Analytics in Banking: Strategies, Examples

pricing analytics in banking examples

Last updated: 15th May, 2024 Have you ever wondered how your bank decides what to charge you for its services? Or, perhaps how do banks arrive at the pricing (fees, rates, and charges) associated with various banking products? If you’re a product manager, data analyst, or data scientist in the banking industry, you might be aware that these pricing decisions are far from arbitrary. Rather, these pricing decisions are made based on one or more frameworks while leveraging data analytics. They result from intricate pricing strategies, driven by an extensive array of data and sophisticated analytics. In this blog, we will learn about some popular pricing strategies banks execute to …

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Posted in Banking, Data Science, Finance, Machine Learning. Tagged with , .

How to Learn Effectively: A Holistic Approach

Three steps of an effective learning process

In this fast-changing world, the ability to learn effectively is more valuable than ever. Whether you’re a student, a professional (data scientist, software engineer, or business analyst), or simply a curious individual, mastering the art of learning can open doors to new opportunities and deeper understanding. But how does one transcend from merely absorbing information to truly learning it? The key lies in a three-step process that can significantly enhance your learning efficiency and retention: Listening, Thinking, and Meditating on the topic. The three-step learning process—Listening, Thinking, and Meditating—parallels the ancient Vedantic practice of Shravana, Manana, and Nididhyasana. These are the three key pillars through which knowledge is traditionally acquired …

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How to Choose Right Statistical Tests: Examples

how to choose right statistical tests

Last updated: 13th May, 2024 Whether you are a researcher, data analyst, or data scientist, selecting the appropriate statistical test is crucial for accurate and reliable hypothesis testing for validating any given claim. With numerous tests available, it can be overwhelming to determine the right statistical test for your research question and data type. In this blog, the aim is to simplify the process, providing you with a systematic approach to choosing the right statistical test. This blog will be particularly helpful for those new to statistical analysis and unsure which test to use for their specific needs. You will learn a clear and structured method for selecting the appropriate …

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Posted in Data Science, statistics. Tagged with , .

Data Lakehouses Fundamentals & Examples

data warehouse vs data lake vs data lakehouses

Last updated: 12th May, 2024 Data lakehouses are a relatively new concept in the data warehousing space. They combine the scalability and cost-effectiveness of cloud storage-based data lakes with the flexibility, security, and performance of traditional data warehouses to create a powerful data management solution. But what exactly is a data lakehouse, how does it work, and how might it be used in your organization? In this blog post, we’ll explore the basics of data lakehouses and provide real-world examples to illustrate their value. What is a Data Lakehouse? Simply speaking, data lakehouses combine elements from both data warehouses and data lakes — hence the name “data lakehouse” — to …

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Posted in Data, Data lake, Data Warehouse. Tagged with , , .

Machine Learning Lifecycle: Data to Deployment Example

Machine Learning Lifecycle

Last updated: 12th May 2024 In this blog, we get an overview of the machine learning lifecycle, from initial data handling to the deployment and iterative improvement of ML models. You might want to check out this book for greater insights into machine learning (ML) concepts – Machine Learning Interviews. The following is the diagram representing the machine learning lifecycle while showcasing three key stages such as preparing data, ML development, and ML deployment. These three stages are explained later in this blog. Stage A: Preparing Data Preparing data for training machine learning models involves collecting data, constructing data pipelines for preprocessing, and refining the data to prepare it for …

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Posted in Data, Data Science, Machine Learning, MLOps. Tagged with , , .

Autoencoder vs Variational Autoencoder (VAE): Differences, Example

autoencoder vs variational autoencoder - point vs distribution

Last updated: 12th May, 2024 In the world of generative AI models, autoencoders (AE) and variational autoencoders (VAEs) have emerged as powerful unsupervised learning techniques for data representation, compression, and generation. While they share some similarities, these algorithms have unique properties and applications that distinguish them. This blog post aims to help machine learning / deep learning enthusiasts understand these two methods, their key differences, and how they can be utilized in various data-driven tasks. We will learn about autoencoders and VAEs, understanding their core components, working mechanisms, and common use cases. We will also try and understand their differences in terms of architecture, objectives, and outcomes. What are Autoencoders? …

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Posted in Deep Learning, Generative AI, Machine Learning. Tagged with , , .

Linear Regression T-test: Formula, Example

Linear regression line slope 0

Last updated: 7th May, 2024 Linear regression is a popular statistical method used to model the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. In linear regression, the t-test is a statistical hypothesis testing technique used to test the hypothesis related to the linearity of the relationship between the response variable and different predictor variables. In this blog, we will discuss linear regression and t-test and related formulas and examples. For a detailed read on linear regression, check out my related blog – Linear regression explained with real-life examples. T-tests are used in linear regression to determine if a particular independent variable (or feature) is statistically significant …

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Posted in Data Science, Python, R, statistics. Tagged with , , , .