In 2012 Target's marketing team was able to find out that a teen was pregnant before her own father even knew.  Their marketing team developed a technique that allowed them to use their consumer's purchasing history to predict which one of their consumers were pregnant based strictly off of their purchasing patterns.  This technique has been extremely advantageous for Target, because they are able to get the attention of these consumers before their competitors can.  Some people think that this type of marketing is an invasion of privacy.  What do you think?

Here is a link to the full article about Target's marketing practice: http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2012/02/16/how-target-figured-out-a-teen-girl-was-pregnant-before-her-father-did/#46a2fd6034c6

In my recent posts I have discussed types of technological breakthroughs that machine learning has taken a part in, but it is important to understand that machine learning can be used in any facet of life, including business marketing -- and in this post, that is exactly what I will be discussing.

Machine Learning helps marketers to compile large amounts of data, interpret the data, and turn the data into useful information that helps companies reach their target markets.  In an article on optimove.com the writers says, "Without machine learning, it is simply too difficult to compile and process the huge amounts of data coming from multiple sources required to predict what marketing offers and incentives will be most effective for each individual customer.  However, when all of this data is made available to computers programmed to perform data mining and machine learning, very accurate next best action predictions can be made" (Optimove).

Ever wondered how a Facebook advertisement knows exactly what you were shopping for 20 seconds after you've completed your late night shopping spree?  Well now you know the answer to that question, machine learning.

For a more in-depth look into how machine learning has changed the marketing world, take a look at http://www.optimove.com/learning-center/machine-learning

This week will be something to stimulate the brain in the form of scientific theory/conspiracy.  I know a lot of people have seen the movie Ex Machina, and that is what has sparked my thought process for this post.  

In 2015, Google announced the existence of RankBrain.  According to Google, RankBrain's existence is to aid the search engine in allowing humans to get from "Point A" to "Point B" when they Google something.  Lots of times when humans Google something, they don't use correct English and just type in exactly what comes to their mind.  RankBrain is in existence to decipher these incorrect English phrases to help users find their desired answers.

Now for the crazy scientific conspiracy thought, if Google has the power to derive slang into correct English, then will there one day be Google robots working in everyday stores? Making sandwiches, taking your boxes from you at a UPS store, directing you to a food item in a grocery store?  Just some food for thought.

In my third post I would like to write about the pure intelligence of computers created by Machine Learning.  A company has created a computer that has mastered all 49 of the Classic Atari Games to be even better than humans.  To give readers a perspective on how valuable this technology is: In 2014, the company that created this computer was bought by Google for around $600 million.

Here is the article I have gotten this information from: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-31623427