The AAIA™ Study Guide defines the core purpose of machine learning as the ability to enable systems to learn from data and make decisions or perform tasks that typically require human cognitive functions. ML allows AI systems to identify patterns, learn from historical data, and automate complex decision-making.

“Machine learning empowers systems to simulate aspects of human intelligence, including pattern recognition, language understanding, and decision-making. It forms the backbone of many AI applications designed to replace or augment human tasks.”

While visual analysis (A) and statistical inference (D) are functions of ML, they are subsets—not primary goals. Explainability (B) is important but is not a core ML function. Thus, C best represents the primary objective.