Section: STEM · Computer ScienceDifficulty: Medium

Neural Network

USUK

A computational model inspired by the brain, composed of interconnected layers of nodes.

Also: ANN · artificial neural network

Definition

An artificial neural network is a computational model inspired by the structure and function of biological neural networks. It consists of layers of interconnected nodes (neurons) that process input data through weighted connections and activation functions, learning to recognize patterns through a training process called backpropagation. Deep neural networks with many layers form the basis of deep learning, enabling breakthroughs in image recognition, speech synthesis, and game playing.

Example

A facial recognition system in a smartphone uses a deep convolutional neural network trained on millions of face images; after seeing hundreds of photos of the owner's face, it can reliably unlock the phone even in different lighting conditions.

Synonyms

  • artificial neural network
  • ANN
  • deep network
  • perceptron network

Antonyms / Opposites

  • rule-based system
  • decision tree

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