Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
Neural Network
Definition
An Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is a computational model inspired by the structure and function of biological neural networks in the brain. It consists of interconnected nodes, or "neurons," organized in layers, that process information.
Why It Matters
Neural networks are the core data structure of deep learning. Their ability to learn non-linear relationships makes them incredibly powerful for modeling complex patterns in data.
Contextual Example
A simple neural network for predicting house prices might take inputs like square footage and number of bedrooms. The neurons in the network would weight these inputs and pass them through activation functions to produce a final price prediction.
Common Misunderstandings
- The term "neural network" is often used interchangeably with "deep learning," but a neural network is only "deep" if it has multiple hidden layers.
- Despite the biological inspiration, artificial neural networks are mathematical functions, not models of a real brain.