How do you explain AIC?
The Akaike information criterion (AIC) is a mathematical method for evaluating how well a model fits the data it was generated from. In statistics, AIC is used to compare different possible models and determine which one is the best fit for the data.
The Akaike information criterion is calculated from the maximum log-likelihood of the model and the number of parameters (K) used to reach that likelihood. The AIC function is 2K – 2(log-likelihood).
What Is an Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) Score? An AIC score is a number used to determine which machine learning model is best for a given data set in situations where one can't easily test a data set. An AIC test is most useful when you're working with a small data set or time series analysis.
The AIC: Akaike Information Criteria is an estimator of prediction error which measures a statistical model in order to quantify the goodness of fit of the model. While comparing two models, the smaller the AIC value, the better the time series model.
A normal A1C level is below 5.7%, a level of 5.7% to 6.4% indicates prediabetes, and a level of 6.5% or more indicates diabetes.
With AIC, lower AIC values indicate better fitting models, so in this example the positive AIC difference means that the PS model is preferred (given that both models have the same number of free parameters, 4, the preferred model is simply the one with the larger log-likelihood).
- K is the number of model parameters (the number of variables in the model plus the intercept).
- Log-likelihood is a measure of model fit. The higher the number, the better the fit. This is usually obtained from statistical output.
The AIC score gives you a way to measure the goodness-of-fit of your model, while at the same time penalizing the model for over-fitting the data. By itself, an AIC score is not useful.
But to answer your question, the lower the AIC the better, and a negative AIC indicates a lower degree of information loss than does a positive (this is also seen if you use the calculations I showed in the above answer, comparing AICs).
One question students often have about AIC is: How do I interpret negative AIC values? The simple answer: The lower the value for AIC, the better the fit of the model. The absolute value of the AIC value is not important.
How does AIC explain variance?
AIC aims to select the model which best explains the variance in the dependent variable with the fewest number of independent variables (parameters). So it helps select a simpler model (fewer parameters) over a complex model (more parameters).
Airman first class (A1C) is the third enlisted rank in the United States Air Force, just above airman and below senior airman.

AIC is an estimate of a constant plus the relative distance between the unknown true likelihood function of the data and the fitted likelihood function of the model, whereas BIC is an estimate of a function of the posterior probability of a model being true, under a certain Bayesian setup.
The Akaike information criterion (AIC) and the Bayesian information criterion (BIC) provide measures of model performance that account for model complexity. AIC and BIC combine a term reflecting how well the model fits the data with a term that penalizes the model in proportion to its number of parameters.
Having a high A1C value means that you have too much sugar in your blood and may have prediabetes or diabetes. Let's take a look at the A1C target numbers. A normal A1C is below 5.7%. If your A1C is between 5.7% to 6.4%, this suggests that you have prediabetes.
The penalties used by AIC and AICc are not much different. Only the penalty of AIC does not depend on the sample size n.
Beware of AIC values computed using conditional likelihoods because the conditioning may be different for different models. Then the AIC values are not comparable. Frequently, the constant term in the AIC is omitted. That is fine for model selection as the constant is the same for all models.
The Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) is more useful in selecting a correct model while the AIC is more appropriate in finding the best model for predicting future observations.
Akaike weights are can be used in model averaging. They represent the relative likelihood of a model. To calculate them, for each model first calculate the relative likelihood of the model, which is just exp( -0.5 * ∆AIC score for that model).
AIC is only a simple formula, it has no hidden inteligence or magic that can see if your model is overfitted. It just counts the number of parameters, multiplies that by two, and subtracts from the maximized likelihood. So, basically, it just assumes that overfitting comes from having many parameters.
What does ALC stand for Army?
Plenty of non-commissioned officers and officers nowadays have the Army Leadership Code (ALC) LEADERS acronym under their signature block.
If it's between 6 and 10, the evidence for the best model and against the weaker model is strong. A Δ BIC of greater than ten means the evidence favoring our best model vs the alternate is very strong indeed.
The simple answer: There is no value for AIC that can be considered “good” or “bad” because we simply use AIC as a way to compare regression models. The model with the lowest AIC offers the best fit. The absolute value of the AIC value is not important.
Roughly speaking: AIC is telling you how good your model fits for a specific mis-classification cost. AUC is telling you how good your model would work, on average, across all mis-classification costs.
One question students often have about AIC is: How do I interpret negative AIC values? The simple answer: The lower the value for AIC, the better the fit of the model. The absolute value of the AIC value is not important.
AIC is an estimate of a constant plus the relative distance between the unknown true likelihood function of the data and the fitted likelihood function of the model, whereas BIC is an estimate of a function of the posterior probability of a model being true, under a certain Bayesian setup.
Usually, AIC is positive; however, it can be shifted by any additive constant, and some shifts can result in negative values of AIC. [...] It is not the absolute size of the AIC value, it is the relative values over the set of models considered, and particularly the differences between AIC values, that are important.
But to answer your question, the lower the AIC the better, and a negative AIC indicates a lower degree of information loss than does a positive (this is also seen if you use the calculations I showed in the above answer, comparing AICs).