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There is no single best programming language for Machine Learning. As with programming in general, whether you use R or Python or any other language, as a Machine Learning Engineer, there is a need to first understand the concepts you want to work on and the underlying principles by which the algorithms you write or use work. Many new programmers get confounded, learning languages upon languages just because some jobs out there are demanding for two or more of these programs. Such learning is not necessary, at least not at the beginning. Just pick one and start the journey.
It may take a while before you master the required concepts, but learning such concepts is worth your time. Just like anyone can use a scissors, any programmer can use a programming language. However, just like only a skilled tailor can do a tailor's job professionally with a scissors, because he understands the tailoring concepts, when you understand the concepts in and the underlying principles behind Machine Learning, you can do a professional job.
As you master the concepts in programming and in Machine Learning, with time, it becomes easier to switch languages if need be. You might then be like the tailor who decides to used a different kind of scissors for the appropriate occasion. So that as a tailor defines his tools, you define yours. You use the language you want or the one that is required of you. Experience, nonetheless is key, but start somewhere. Those who are called professionals today were novices yesterday
On a general note, for a start, if you will like to be involved in things like web development, android app development e.t.c. in future, apart from Machine Learning/Data Science, I strongly recommend that you go ahead with python but if you want to do Machine Learning/Data Science only, I strongly recommend R. See my Introduction to Machine Learning for more details on which programming language may serve you better.
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