Title: Discussion 1 — Does This Actually Need Machine Learning?
Course: AIINFRA 303: Capstone Project > Section: Week 01 — Capstone Kickoff: Scoping a Production AI System

💬 Discussion 1 — Does This Actually Need Machine Learning? (20 pts)

Post your capstone idea from Lab 1, then argue both sides: could a simpler rule-based heuristic (regex, lookup table, decision tree of if/else statements) solve this problem instead of ML? Be specific about what that heuristic version would look like. Then state what evidence — what data, what edge cases, what failure pattern — would convince you that ML really is necessary versus just convenient or impressive-looking. Remember one of this week's core lessons: choosing the wrong problem, without first validating that it truly needs ML, is a leading reason AI projects never reach production. A capstone that honestly earns its ML component will be stronger than one that assumes it. Respond to at least two classmates — push back constructively if you think their heuristic case is stronger (or weaker) than they think, and ask what evidence would change their mind.