The Data Path Less Traveled: Step up Creativity using Heuristics in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Beyond - Softcover

Voulgaris, Zacharias

 
9781634628570: The Data Path Less Traveled: Step up Creativity using Heuristics in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Beyond

Synopsis

Become proficient in using heuristics within the data science pipeline to produce higher quality results in less time.

Although data professionals have used heuristics for many years within optimization-related applications, heuristics have been a vibrant area of research in various data-related areas, from machine learning to image processing. Heuristics also play a role in niche applications such as cybersecurity. In addition, the advent of AI and other data-driven methodologies have brought heuristics to the forefront of data-related work.

In this book, we explore heuristics from a practical perspective. We illustrate how heuristics can help you solve challenging problems through simple examples and real-life situations. Apply Jaccard Similarity and a variant, F1 score, Entropy, Ectropy, Area Under Curve, Particle Swarm Optimization, and Genetic Algorithms (along with GA variants). Beyond just exhibiting the various known and lesser-known heuristics available today, we also examine how you can go about creating your own through a simple and functional framework. Code notebooks enable you to practice all of the techniques and explore a few of your own.

There is no doubt that the data-driven paradigm is here to stay. There are many ways to stand out in it as a data professional, with AI-related know-how being at the top of the list. However, equally impactful can be the creative tools (heuristics) that make such technologies feasible and scalable. Unfortunately, this is a way that not many people care to follow as it’s off the beaten path. Are you up for the challenge?

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author

Dr. Zacharias Voulgaris was born in Athens, Greece. He studied Production Engineering and Management at the Technical University of Crete, shifted to Computer Science through a Masters in Information Systems & Technology, and then to Data Science through a PhD in Machine Learning. He has worked at Georgia Tech as a Research Fellow, at an e-marketing startup in Cyprus as an SEO manager, and as a Data Scientist in both Elavon (GA) and G2 Web Services (WA). He also was a Program Manager at Microsoft on a data analytics pipeline for Bing. Zacharias has authored several books on Data Science, mentors aspiring data scientists, and maintains a Data Science and AI blog. Currently, he works as a consultant at GLG.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.