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Last updated on Mar 29, 2025
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  3. Machine Learning

Your non-technical team struggles with machine learning jargon. How can you make it relatable?

How do you simplify complex topics for your team? Share your strategies for making machine learning relatable.

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Machine Learning

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Last updated on Mar 29, 2025
  1. All
  2. Engineering
  3. Machine Learning

Your non-technical team struggles with machine learning jargon. How can you make it relatable?

How do you simplify complex topics for your team? Share your strategies for making machine learning relatable.

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Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)
13 answers
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    RAKESH Parthiban

    Marketing & Sales | Go-To-Market (GTM) | Startup Scaling & Growth | Revenue & Business Innovation | AI & Marketing Integration

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    Bridging the gap between machine learning and non-technical teams is all about storytelling and real-world examples. Instead of diving into complex jargon, I focus on relatable analogies—like explaining an AI model as a "chef" following a recipe (algorithm) while refining it based on taste (data). Visual aids, step-by-step breakdowns, and interactive discussions help make the concepts more digestible. Connecting machine learning to everyday tools, like Netflix recommendations or spam filters, makes it more tangible. Most importantly, I encourage curiosity and an open space for questions.

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    Dr.Shahid Masood

    President GNN | CEO 1950

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    Simplifying complex topics like machine learning for your team requires a strategic approach that emphasizes relatable analogies and practical applications. For instance, comparing machine learning algorithms to everyday decision-making processes can help demystify their functionality. Additionally, using visual aids, such as flowcharts or interactive demos, can enhance understanding by illustrating how data flows through models. Encouraging hands-on experimentation with simplified datasets allows team members to grasp concepts more intuitively, fostering a culture of learning and innovation that is essential in the rapidly evolving landscape of emerging technologies.

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    Charles Bell

    Meteorologist, Learning and Development Practitioner, and Instructor Interested in Demystifying AI. Note, all posts here are of my own and not of my employer.

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    For complex topics the various LMLs are a great way to start. Try a prompt like this: I am the leader of a non-technical team that is having difficulty with machine learning jargon. What are some ways I can make it more relatable? Please give me at least 4 and have them be simple examples. I have used LMLs in the past to help take a complex subject and make it easier for someone else to understand.

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    Arivukkarasan Raja, PhD

    IT Director @ AstraZeneca | Expert in Enterprise Solution Architecture & Applied AI | Robotics & IoT | Digital Transformation | Strategic Vision for Business Growth Through Emerging Tech

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    To make machine learning concepts relatable for a non-technical team, I would use the following approaches: 1. **Use Analogies**: Employ everyday analogies that relate machine learning concepts to familiar situations, like comparing algorithms to recipes to explain data processing. 2. **Visual Aids**: Utilize visuals such as infographics and simple charts to illustrate key concepts, making the information more digestible. 3. **Simple Language**: Avoid jargon; instead, use plain language to explain terminology and concepts, gradually introducing technical terms with definitions. 4. **Interactive Examples**: Present real-world case studies and interactive demos that showcase how machine learning impacts their work.

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    Peter R.
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    The best way to increase understanding and increase adoption is to hold open, frank conversations with the team via a variety of forums in which honesty is encouraged.....tough questions, even those that can not currently be answered should be encouraged. This will create a natural environment for immersion and the team will quickly become familiar with machine learning and its associated terminology.

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    Angel Suliveres

    Change agent. Learning, growing and evolving daily.

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    Analogies and Stories: Use relatable examples, like comparing an algorithm to a chef following recipes, adjusting ingredients based on taste. Visual Aids: Incorporate diagrams, flowcharts, or interactive visuals to illustrate key concepts like data pipelines or model training. Hands-On Examples: Create simple, engaging exercises, such as using everyday data (e.g., favorite coffee orders) to predict preferences. Language Simplification: Replace jargon with plain language—terms like "training data" can become "examples the system learns from." Real-World Applications: Highlight how machine learning impacts industries or solves problems your team can relate to directly.

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    Ayeni oluwatosin Olawale

    Machine Learning Engineer | AI/ML for Finance, Healthcare & Science | Data Science | Predictive Analytics | Neural Networks

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    One thing I’ve found helpful is using real-world analogies to explain machine learning concepts. For example, I compare training a model to teaching a child—providing examples, correcting mistakes, and reinforcing learning over time. It’s important to note that simplifying terminology without losing accuracy is key. Instead of "gradient descent," I describe it as a process of adjusting steps to find the best solution, like hiking down a mountain in fog. By framing ML concepts in familiar terms, non-technical teams grasp their impact without feeling overwhelmed. This approach fosters collaboration, ensuring AI solutions align with business needs and practical applications.

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    Mohd Azwan Bin Asmat

    Ts.ChM, Quality Assurance Manager at McCorry Group

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    One way to do it is to simplify everything. Now, simplifying everything is not as easy as it sounds. You need to be able to understand in greater depth before you can simplify the technical jargon to a more relatable or layman terms. Here's one tip: Talk like you are talking to a group of kids. Explain things like they are kids wanting to learn. Use picture, sound, videos or anything as learning aid. They might not understand the jargon, but at least make sure they get the concept.

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    Pradeep Gupta

    Product Management Leader | Innovator | Transforming Ideas into Impactful Products | Driving Business Growth

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    Jargon shouldn’t be a barrier - it should be a bridge! 🌉 📌 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀: 🔹 Think of Machine Learning like learning to cook. The first time, you follow a recipe. Over time, you tweak ingredients based on taste - just like ML models adjust based on data. 📌 𝗦𝘄𝗮𝗽 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝘀: 🔹 Instead of 'training data,' say practice rounds. 🔹 Instead of 'algorithm,' say decision-making formula. 📌 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲: 🔹 Ask, 'How does YouTube know what videos you’ll like?' That’s ML learning your preferences! When people see ML in their daily lives, it clicks.

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