I&#x27;d say it&#x27;s using computers for solving problems in a wide open model space.<p>Any algorithm for solving practical problems embodies a model of the problem domain. Traditionally we try to bake in as much of our own experience as possible in the model&#x2F;algorithm.<p>In some fields, we&#x27;re now seeing for the first time that it&#x27;s better to not do that, to make <i>fewer</i> assumptions, build in less of our own knowledge, and just use (new, powerful) general purpose learning algorithms. With enough data, they can make sense of it themselves - our attempts at explaining it through model-building just get in the way.