---
title: "Unsupervised learning"
description: "Learning structure (clusters, anomalies) from data without labels."
canonical: https://aigovernanceengineer.com/glossary/unsupervised-learning
author: "Jorge García Aibar"
license: "CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)"
doi: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22956197
version: "0.5.0"
updated: 2026-09-24
---

# Unsupervised learning

Learning structure (clusters, anomalies) from data without labels [1]. With no ground truth to test against, controls rely on stability tests and human review of the segments before they are used in decisions.

- Developed in: [ch. 11, By learning paradigm](https://aigovernanceengineer.com/bok/ai-defined#by-learning-paradigm)
- Chapters: [ch. 11, AI Defined](https://aigovernanceengineer.com/bok/ai-defined)
- Contrast with: [Supervised learning](https://aigovernanceengineer.com/glossary/supervised-learning)
- In the glossary chapter: https://aigovernanceengineer.com/bok/glossary#t-unsupervised-learning

## Sources

[1] ISO/IEC 22989:2022, Artificial intelligence concepts and terminology (referenced by identifier only; autonomy and heteronomy; clause 5.11 machine learning approaches: supervised, unsupervised, semi-supervised, reinforcement). ISO/IEC. 2022-07. https://www.iso.org/standard/74296.html (verified: secondary)