Which term describes a machine's ability to learn from data?

The term that describes a machine's ability to learn from data is machine learning. Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence focused on developing algorithms and statistical models that enable computers to perform specific tasks without explicit instructions, instead relying on patterns and inference derived from data.

Machine learning encompasses various techniques and approaches, allowing machines to improve their performance on tasks as they are exposed to more data. This capability is pivotal in applications such as recommendation systems, image and speech recognition, and predictive analytics, where systems need to adapt and refine their operations based on new information.

While the other terms are related concepts within the field of AI, they do not specifically refer to the learning capability of machines from data. For example, automation refers to the use of technology to perform tasks without human intervention but does not necessarily imply that the system learns or adapts over time. Data mining involves extracting patterns or knowledge from large sets of data but does not inherently involve the machine learning aspect of self-improvement or adaptation. Deep learning is a specialized subfield of machine learning that utilizes neural networks with many layers, but it is one approach among many within the broader category of machine learning.