Setting the standards for machine learning in biology

Machine learning is a branch of artificial intelligence (AI) involving computer programs that are able to improve their own performance through experience (training). The diverse applications of new ‘deep learning’ approaches with neural networks are now expanding into the field of biology. But these applications to biological data require more scrutiny and caution to increase the standards of publishing and allow the AI revolution in biology to take off. David Jones discusses problems associated with the application of machine learning to biology and advocates for improving publishing standards in this area through a more thorough reporting on the design of the computational experiments.