Artificial intelligence (AI) focuses on creating intelligent computers that can perceive their environment and make decisions to maximize the chances of reaching their goals. Machine learning (ML) is a subfield of AI that gives computers the ability to learn iteratively, improve predictive models and find insights from data without being explicitly programmed to do so. AI/ML applications include speech recognition, computer vision, robotic control and accelerating processes in the empirical sciences. Silicon Valley startup SambaNova Systems developed an advanced systems platform and hardware to power machine learning and data analytics via a system architecture that is flexible, scalable and optimized for dataflow.