Tom M. Mitchell

Mitchell is a celebrated leader in machine learning, through both his research and his organizational efforts.  Important machine learning research contributions include: Semi-supervised learning from unlabelled data by co-training, with applications to unstructured text and hypertext.  Development of machine learning algorithms for analysis of brain image data (fMRI and MEG), producing models of how human brains encode nouns (objects) in terms of neural activity representing verbs (actions).  Creation of the Never-Ending Language Learner (NELL), which has run continuously for over five years, learning to extract facts and concepts from unstructured text on the world-wide web.  NELL is one of the first systems to continuously learn new concepts, to learn to reason over them, and to extend its representational vocabulary as it learns.  Organizational efforts include founding and leading the world's first university Machine Learning Department, at Carnegie Mellon University.