Why is Python popular for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence?
According to a recent survey conducted by Stack Overflow Developer in 2022, around 38% of the total respondents said that they use Python for their programming language applications. Also, the number of downloads of the Python package in 2021 was 21.6 billion. These numbers show how popular Python is as a programming language. These are widely used for machine learning algorithms and designing artificial intelligence models.
But are they really good for machine learning and artificial intelligence? Why they are so popular among developers and what are the benefits it offers to them? Also is there any better substitute for this? Well, in this article, we will answer all your questions and will land up to a conclusion if it is the best programming language for AI and ML or not.
Python: Popular for AI and ML
Artificial intelligence is no more fiction and has become an integral part of our lives. Organizations are leveraging AI to use make their businesses more productive, and end consumers are using AI systems to make their everyday lives easier. Behind all these machine learning algorithms building up on Python programming language plays the most important role. Developers across industries and at different levels rely on this incredible tool that offers tons of benefits. Probably this is why Python covers a portion of the curriculum in the best AI and ML certifications. In the following section, we will see the benefits that have made it undoubtedly the best programming language for AI and ML.
Benefits of using Python
So now let us check out the plethora of benefits Python has to offer to developers.
- Great Library Ecosystem
Python library refers to a module or group of modules that consist of pre-written codes that any developer can access according to their requirement. This enables them to reach directly to the functionality they want and similarly perform different actions. It also provides base-level Python codes which developers can take ahead according to their needs saving them a lot of time. These libraries are published by different sources for example PyPi. Python Library is one major reason for making it the most popular programming language. Some of the popular Python libraries are:
- SciKit-Learn
- Pandas
- Keras
- TensorFlow
- MatPlotLib, etc.
- Flexibility
Python offers flexibility to developers through its easy-to-read syntax, dynamic typing, and vast library support. Therefore programmers can quickly adapt and create a wide range of applications, from web development to data analysis. Developers can use it in combination with other programs. Also, there’s no need to recompile the source code.
- Good Visualization options
Data visualization is a very important aspect of AI and ML that refers to the conversion of data into human-readable visuals. Python libraries offer great data visualization tools making developers’ work easier. With the help of MatPlotlib, developers can create histograms, charts, and bars and make great visuals. Top AI certifications mandatorily include these concepts in their curriculum.
Apart from these, python also offers other benefits such as easy readability, being an independent platform, and having a low entry barrier making it the perfect programming language to learn for beginners.
The incredible Python community
There is a very active Python community consisting of highly skilled users as well as beginners who want to try their hands on this tool. There are around 100 million active users from whom other users can seek assistance and help with their projects. There are 200,000 contributors who love to help with the Python codes that can be used for beginners as well as experienced developers. Since it is an open-source platform, you can get access to a huge amount of resources to help you master this tool.
What is the future of Python in AI and ML?
Python is so far the most popular programming language which all AI and ML professionals use for their projects. The popularity is ever-growing and therefore the user base for this language is also increasing rapidly. Since more and more users are relying on this, and more and more contributors are helping to strengthen this community, we can confer, Python holds a great future when it comes to its applications in developing machine learning algorithms and AI systems. So, if you are planning to get into an AI career, then learning Python is highly recommended.
Conclusion
To sum up, Python is undoubtedly the first choice for beginners to start their coding practices. And even experienced users rely on this to make their AI and ML models. Because of its user-friendly user interface, easy readability, a vast library, and huge community support, it has secured its place among the best programming languages. And if you are someone who wants to try hands-on programming, then you can surely give it a try.
