1 Kolmogorov complexity and Inductive inference Kolmogorov complexity of an object, such as a piece of text, is the length of a shortest computer program (in a predetermined programming language) that produces the object as output. It is a measure of the computational resources needed to specify the object. MDL and learning decision tree code the decision tree and exceptions to reach the minimum message length 2 Example 3 Example 4 Example 5 Example 6 Example + single exception 7 Example + single exception 8 How to code a decision tree and exceptions 1. Perfect tree 9 How to code a decision tree and exceptions 2. Imperfect tree 10 How to code a decision tree and exceptions Perfect tree Imperfect tree Summary 11 Information sources •  Tom Mitchell, Machine Learning •  Peter Flach Book •  http://work.caltech.edu/lectures.html •  Li & Vitanyi, An Introduction to Komogorov Complexity and Its Applications