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1. Introduction to Data Science

Welcome to week Day 01 of Foundations of Data Science Week. Today we’ll dive into the foundations of data science and learn about Data Science day, happening on March 14th.

About Data Science Day

Data Science Day at Microsoft is an online event that celebrates and showcases the use of Python for data science and machine learning. It features speakers from Microsoft and the Python community, who share their insights, best practices, and tips on how to leverage Microsoft tools and services for data science and machine learning.

Data Science Day is free and aimed at anyone who is interested in data science and machine learning, whether they are beginners or experts, hobbyists or professionals, students or researchers. Join us on March 14th 2024!

 Sketchnote by (@sketchthedocs)
Defining Data Science - Sketchnote by @nitya

What is Data Science?

Data science is an interdisciplinary field that uses scientific methods, processes, algorithms, and systems to extract knowledge and insights from data of all structures and sizes. Data science can be applied to various domains and problems and involves skills such as statistics, programming, machine learning, data visualization, and communication.

The main goal of data science is to extract knowledge from data, in other words - to understand data, find some hidden relationships and build a model.

Data science and AI often use similar techniques, such as machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision, to analyze data and make predictions or decisions. However, data science and AI also have different goals and applications.

Data science focuses on understanding data and finding patterns, while AI focuses on creating systems that can act and learn from data.Data science and AI work together by using data as the fuel and the engine for creating intelligent systems. Data science provides the methods and tools to extract insights and knowledge from data, while AI uses these insights and knowledge to perform tasks that require human intelligence.

CriteriaAIData ScienceMachine Learning
FocusCreating systems that can perform tasks that require human intelligenceExtracting insights and knowledge from dataDeveloping algorithms that can learn from data
What is required/What do they use?Logic and decision treesStructured and unstructured dataStatistical models
What it achievesAn autonomous system that can run without human interventionA better understanding of data and finding patternsA prediction or decision based on certain criteria
Example of toolsTensorflow, sci-kit-learn, WEKAR, Python, ExcelR, Python, Excel, sci-kit-learn
ApplicationChatbots, self-driving cars, Optical Character Recognition (OCR)Advertising, marketing, healthcareWeather prediction, stock market prediction, recommendation systems

What’s Next?

Tomorrow, you’ll learn about resposible AI and its role in Data Science.

Learn more

More Data Science at Microsoft


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