Investors face a quandary. Cash offers a return of virtually zero in many developed countries; government-bond yields may have risen in recent weeks but they are still unattractive. Equities have suffered two big bear markets since 2000 and are wobbling again. It is hardly surprising that pension funds, insurers and endowments are searching for new sources of return.

The ideal learning algorithm just takes a dataset and outputs a function, without requiring hand tuning of hyperparameters.

[…] that he had not elected English literature, that he had already wasted too much brain tissue on the question, and that he was unminded to waste any more!

Dr. Creeton, [Robert Creighton] the Scotchman, […] ripped up Hugh Peters (calling him the execrable skellum), his preaching and stirring up the maids of the city to bring in their bodkins and thimbles.