Abstract
In the present review, the merits and demerits of machine learning (ML) in materials science are discussed, compared with first principles calculations (PDE (partial differential equations) model) and physical or phenomenological ODE (ordinary differential equations) model calculations. ML is basically a fitting procedure of pre-existing (experimental) data as a function of various factors called descriptors. If excellent descriptors can be selected and the training data contain negligible error, the predictive power of a ML model is relatively high. However, it is currently very difficult for a ML model to predict experimental results beyond the parameter space of the training experimental data. For example, it is pointed out that all-dislocation-ceramics, which could be a new type of solid electrolyte filled with appropriate dislocations for high ionic conductivity without dendrite formation, could not be predicted by ML. The merits and demerits of first principles calculations and physical or phenomenological ODE model calculations are also discussed with some examples of the flexoelectric effect, dielectric constant, and ionic conductivity in solid electrolytes.