Business intelligence, data mining, and data analytics/predictive analytics are related fields that involve analyzing large datasets to discover patterns and trends. Data mining specifically refers to using algorithms to explore large datasets to identify hidden patterns and relationships. It is used by businesses for applications like direct marketing, market segmentation, customer churn prediction, and fraud detection. Key challenges for successful data mining projects include having credible data sources and knowledgeable personnel. Data mining has various applications in fields like medicine where it can help with earlier disease detection, symptom trend analysis, and improved drug reactions.