How to Choose the Right AI Model for Your Application?

Prashant Pujara
6 min readAug 1, 2024

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Right AI Model for Your Application
Right AI Model for Your Application

AI has been applied in many areas such as in education, commerce, technology, health, retail and manufacturing fields. Choosing the right AI model to your system is very important if you want to achieve certain intended goals.

The market of artificial intelligence has been proving to be a steadily growing market especially in the recent past. A research study by Grand View Research has disclosed that by 2023 AI were worth $196.63 billion and it is expected to reach a CAGR of 36% by 2030. This surge is mainly associated with the uptick in the use of AI innovations in sectors such as healthcare, automobile, and retail.

To navigate you to the right AI model for your requirement, the following is the guide.

Understanding AI Models

In other words, the AI model is an organized structure of algorithms and equations made to replicate human intelligence that allows the system to train and make logical or problem solving decisions in the areas of pattern analysis, selection, or predictions.

As previously pointed out, there are various AI models and these models are different for particular types of application. Ranging from the type that has been trained on big data to that of deep learning models based on the human brain, the choice is nearly endless. For the purpose of this work, we will look into each type in order to establish the general functions and features that can be attributed to them.

How to Select the Right AI Model

The following factors should be taken into consideration when choosing an AI model:

  • Application Requirements: The type of model you will use largely depends on your application requirements.
  • Data Availability: The data that you collect usually determines the success of your AI project, whether it will be good or bad.
  • Model Complexity: Simple models are easier to implement and to maintain while more complex modes might provide better accuracy rates.

Types of AI Models

AI models can be categorized into few types depending on it operational and effectiveness ability like; Here are the key types:Here are the key types:

  • Supervised Learning

The supervised learning is the AI model with a labeled dataset where each training data or example has an output or label attached to it. It is a model that learns how to come up with the output for the given input data.

Examples: Binary classification (e. g. spam detection) and regression (e. g. predicting house prices).

  • Unsupervised Learning

In unsupervised learning, the AI model is trained on data without specifying the correct answers. It actively seeks to look for patterns and trends in the data that the model is going to predict.

Examples: Dividing (for example, into customer groups) and grouping (for instance, market basket analysis).

  • Reinforcement Learning

This learning technique is built on the concept of agents and the environment they operate in to make decisions that yield the greatest amount of accumulated reward. It is a process of experimentation and acquiring knowledge of the outcomes of a particular behavior.

Examples: Puzzle solving (e.g., AlphaGo) and automobile technology (e.g., self driving).

  • Semi-supervised Learning

Semi-supervised learning is a type of ML that involves integrating a little bit of labeled data with a vast amount of data that is unlabeled. It also assists in the management of large amounts of unlabeled data of which there is always a plenty.

Examples: Domain Adaptation Lecture 4 — How to achieve better classification accuracy when there is limited labeled data?

  • Self-supervised Learning

Self-supervised learning occurs when the data itself provides the labels that can facilitate the training of a model. It builds a middle ground between the two forms of machine learning known as the Supervised learning and unsupervised learning.

Examples: NLP tasks such as language modeling and image recognition tasks.

  • Transfer Learning

Transfer learning is the use of a model trained on a large data set and fine-tuned on a different but related task using a small set of data. This is suitable for tasks with few options or a manageable cut-off point to classify into different options.

Examples: Making a sentiment analysis model from a general language model or making a medical image recognition model from a general image recognition model.

Evaluating Model Performance

After deciding on the model type, the next important step is to assess the model, its effectiveness or efficiency. Key metrics include:

  • Accuracy and Precision: How many times does the model work accurately?
  • Speed and Efficiency: How quick and efficiently can the model make predictions?
  • Scalability: How scalable is the model type with respect to data and usage?

Understanding Your Application Needs

To optimize your flow before getting into data and models, state your application requirements clearly.

  • Specific Use Cases: What challenge are you addressing?
  • Performance Requirements: To what degree does the model have to be accurate?
  • Budget Constraints: What are the resources that you currently have?

Data Considerations

Data is the fundamental element of any AI model. Here’s what to keep in mind:

  • Data Quality: Accurate data gives improved model accuracy.
  • Data Quantity: Using more data can increase the accuracy but it will take more computational resources.
  • Data Preprocessing: Take time to clean and preprocess your data, it will enhance the ability of the model to learn.

Model Complexity and Interpretability

There is always a trade-off between added complexity and enhanced interpretability.:

  • Simple vs. Complex Models: A low complexity means the model is easier to understand and manage; however, it may not be very accurate.
  • Accuracy vs. Interpretability: Complicated models such as deep learning may give a more accurate prediction and are difficult to analyze.

Deployment and Maintenance

Consider how this AI model will be beneficial in real life situations.:

  • Ease of Deployment: Are there any difficulties with slotting the model into your systems as they are currently configured?
  • Maintenance and Updates: How frequently will the model require updating?
  • Monitoring and Troubleshooting: How will you track the performance of the model and solve problems?

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Weigh the cost against the cost in its relation to the benefit that has been derived from it.:

  • Initial Setup Costs: Think about the costs to setup and deploy the model in the business.
  • Long-term Maintenance Costs: Consider constant costs incurred to give updates and maintenance.
  • ROI Considerations: Assess the probabilities of a high rate of return.

Future Trends in AI Models

The AI environment is still growing and a number of trends are expected to define its future models. These trends also complement and extend AI not only in capability, but also in accessibility and applicability, across more problems of more types of industries.

  • Explainable AI (XAI)

It is the designing of AI models that can easily be explained or interpreted by people to understand the rationale behind the result. This is especially the case in sectors like healthcare and finance where explanations as to why a certain AI prediction was made is paramount to trust and compliance.

  • Edge AI

Edge AI reduces the dependency on the internet and makes it possible to deploy applications where real-time reaction is required, or internet connection is scarce.

  • Federated Learning

Federated learning is a machine learning method that is used to train models where the data is kept on individual devices while only the gradients are aggregated with a central node.

  • Automated Machine Learning (AutoML)

AutoML is a process to make AI more accessible by providing a fully automated solution to model selection, hyperparameter tuning and feature engineering. AutoML tools are getting advanced with time, and developers are coming up with great solutions that need little or no human interjection.

  • Multi-Modal Learning

Multi-modal learning is the process of learning and processing multiple types of data, such as text, images and audio, within one model. This helps the model to be more proficient in comprehending and producing more elaborate outcomes.

Conclusion

Selecting an appropriate AI model is one of the most challenging steps in implementing decision-making techniques in a project, especially when working with a top AI development company. Therefore, a careful pre-selection in terms of the requirements of your application, a comparison of the performance of the models, and reflections on practical aspects such as implementation and maintenance will help you make the right decision. However, it is essential to understand that the model that would fit your application best depends on your needs and the available tools and assets.

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Prashant Pujara

Prashant Pujara, CEO of MultiQoS, with 15+ years of experience, passionately writes on web and mobile app technologies.