Machine learning (ML) is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) that enables computers to learn from data and make decisions without explicit programming. It involves training algorithms on data to create models that can predict or decide based on new information. There are different types of ML, including supervised (learning from labeled data), unsupervised (finding patterns in unlabeled data), and reinforcement learning (learning from rewards or penalties). ML is widely used in applications like image recognition, natural language processing, and predictive analytics.