What is 'machine learning'?

Machine learning is indeed a branch of artificial intelligence. It focuses on the development of algorithms and statistical models that enable computers to perform specific tasks without using explicit instructions, relying instead on patterns and inference from data. This aspect distinguishes machine learning as it allows systems to learn from experience, effectively improving their performance in tasks like classification, prediction, and decision-making over time.

The other options do not accurately represent machine learning. Automating traditional programming does not encompass the depth and adaptiveness of learning from data, which is central to machine learning. Enhancing hardware efficiency refers to performance improvements of physical components rather than the algorithms that learn from data. Lastly, manual data entry pertains to the human involvement in inputting data, which is not related to the automated learning capabilities defined by machine learning.