Artificial Intelligence

What is Neural Network?

Quick answer

A machine learning model made of layers of connected nodes, loosely inspired by the brain, that learns patterns by adjusting connection weights.

Neural Network, explained

A neural network takes input numbers, such as the pixel values of an image, and passes them through layers of artificial neurons. Each neuron multiplies its inputs by weights, adds them up, and applies a simple function. The final layer produces an output, such as the probability that the image shows a cat.

During training, the network compares its predictions with correct answers and uses an algorithm called backpropagation to adjust its weights slightly, repeating this many times until predictions improve. Networks with many layers are called deep neural networks, the basis of deep learning. Specialized designs include convolutional networks for images, recurrent networks for sequences, and transformers, which now dominate language and many other tasks.

Related terms

Guides that mention Neural Network