In the context of machine learning, what does the term "model fine-tuning" refer to?

Model fine-tuning in machine learning refers specifically to the process of refining algorithms after the initial training phase to improve their performance on specific tasks or datasets. This usually involves making small adjustments to the model's parameters, hyperparameters, or structure to better capture the underlying patterns in the data.

Fine-tuning is often done after a model has been pre-trained on a large corpus and is then adapted to a more specific task, which can lead to better results compared to training a model from scratch. It can involve techniques such as transfer learning, where a model developed for one task is repurposed for another, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness.

The other choices do not accurately capture the essence of model fine-tuning. Adjusting the dataset size pertains to data preparation and does not involve the model's internal workings. Changing programming languages is irrelevant to the functionality of a machine learning model itself and doesn't impact its performance. Removing outliers from data is an important data preprocessing step but is not related to the refinement of the model post-training. Thus, refining algorithms after initial training is the correct understanding of model fine-tuning.