Machine learning gives computers the ability to learn from data without explicit programming. For web developers, understanding the concepts is enough to leverage ML APIs.
Three types: supervised learning (labeled data — classification and regression), unsupervised learning (patterns in data — clustering), and reinforcement learning (learning from actions).
Pre-built ML APIs: Google Vision API (image recognition), Translate API, Speech-to-Text, and Natural Language API. OpenAI and Anthropic provide LLM APIs.
TensorFlow.js runs ML models in the browser. Train models in Python, export to TensorFlow.js format, run client-side for privacy and speed.
Practical ML for web: recommendation engines, content moderation, image classification, sentiment analysis, and fraud detection.
Start with APIs, not training. Use pre-trained models for common tasks. Only train custom models when existing solutions don't fit your specific use case.