B a c kg r o u n d
Artificial intelligence
Machine learning isn’t hard with OpenML Developed in the heart of the Brainport region, boasting more than 150 thousand users worldwide and yet, the Open Machine Learning platform is largely unknown in the local industry. With the support of initiator Joaquin Vanschoren, Georgo Angelis from TUE’s High Tech Systems Center and Eindhoven AI Systems Institute wants to change that with his startup PortML. Alexander Pil
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hen Joaquin Vanschoren started developing the Open Machine Learning platform about six years ago, it was out of need and out of frustration. As a researcher at the KU Leuven, he kept running into the same walls when he wanted to use machine learning techniques. “How can I get access to many datasets? And how can I properly compare different machine learning algorithms?” describes Vanschoren some of his daily obstacles. “The challenge was – and still is – that most datasets aren’t accessible or, at least, require weeks of work before they’re useful. Moreover, what’s published in research papers is often very difficult to reproduce, if it’s even possible at all. Especially when there’s a commercial company behind it, they contain a lot of marketing. When you try for yourself, it often doesn’t work.” Vanschoren started the OpenML platform as an open-source project because his ambition was too big for one person to achieve. His initiative was quickly picked up by the research community and now about twenty people are contributing to the tool. “Mostly volunteers,” says Vanschoren, currently an associate professor at Eindhoven University of Technology. “Initially, they were predominantly PhDs who, like myself, were struggling with the same challenges but now, more and more people from the industry are getting involved.” 36
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Credit: TU Eindhoven
Joaquin Vanschoren from OpenML Foundation: “OpenML is a gathering place for all machine learning research worldwide.”
Credit: TU Eindhoven
Georgo Angelis, High Tech Systems Center: “Within PortML, we’re working on a version of OpenML for the industry.”
