Scribd
Upload
5 views

2_notes (2)

Neural networks are computer systems modeled after the human brain, designed to recognize patterns and learn from data, making them essential in AI applications like image recognition and natural language processing. The structure of a neural network includes input, hidden, and output layers, with training processes involving hyperparameter tuning, forward propagation, and backpropagation to optimize performance. Applications span various fields, including healthcare and language prediction, though challenges such as bias and ethical concerns persist.

Uploaded by

nihilnoths
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
5 views

2_notes (2)

Neural networks are computer systems modeled after the human brain, designed to recognize patterns and learn from data, making them essential in AI applications like image recognition and natural language processing. The structure of a neural network includes input, hidden, and output layers, with training processes involving hyperparameter tuning, forward propagation, and backpropagation to optimize performance. Applications span various fields, including healthcare and language prediction, though challenges such as bias and ethical concerns persist.

Uploaded by

nihilnoths
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

SCDS1001 - Artificial Intelligence Literacy I

L-3: Rise of Neural Networks and Deep Learning

What are Neural Networks?


Neural networks are computer systems inspired by the structure and function of the human brain. They
are designed to recognize patterns, make decisions, and learn from data. By mimicking the way
biological neurons process information, neural networks excel in complex tasks, such as image
recognition, natural language processing, and decision-making. Their ability to adapt and improve over
time makes them a cornerstone of modern AI applications.

Biological Neurons
Biological neurons are interconnected cells that process and transmit information using electrical and
chemical signals. They communicate via synapses, where the strength of the connection can change
over time through a process called synaptic plasticity. This adaptability inspired the design of artificial
neural networks, which similarly learn and improve based on experience. However, the complexity of
biological systems highlights the challenges of replicating true human intelligence in machines.

Artificial Neurons and Their Role


Artificial neurons are simplified models of biological neurons. Each artificial neuron receives input,
processes it, and passes the output to the next layer. While this simplification allows for computational
efficiency, it may overlook the depth of human cognition, making certain tasks, like understanding
context or ambiguity, more challenging. Despite this, neural networks offer greater flexibility compared
to alternatives like decision trees or rule-based systems, which are often more interpretable but less
adaptable.

Structure of a Neural Network


Input Layer
The input layer is where the network receives raw data, such as hours of sleep or hours of study. Proper
preprocessing, such as normalization and feature selection, ensures the input is clean and consistent.
High-quality input is essential for accurate predictions.

Hidden Layers
Hidden layers are where the network learns complex patterns and hierarchical representations of data.
These layers help the network tackle tasks that simpler models might miss. However, adding more
layers can lead to overfitting, where the model learns noise instead of meaningful patterns. Techniques
like dropout can mitigate this risk by randomly disabling some neurons during training.

Output Layer
The output layer produces the final result of the network’s computation, such as a predicted exam score.
The design of this layer depends on the task at hand, whether it’s classification (e.g., identifying an
object) or regression (e.g., predicting a score). A well-designed output layer ensures the results are
interpretable and actionable.

Training a Neural Network


Training a neural network involves a series of steps that enable the model to learn from data and improve
its performance.

1. Hyperparameters
Hyperparameters play a critical role in determining a neural network’s performance. These include
settings such as the number of hidden layers, the number of neurons per layer, and the activation
function. Tuning hyperparameters often involves experimentation. Common methods include grid
search and random search, while advanced techniques like Bayesian optimization offer more efficient
results. However, trade-offs like computational cost must be carefully managed.

2. Initialization
The training process begins by initializing weights randomly for all layers. Proper weight initialization
is crucial to avoid issues like vanishing or exploding gradients. Techniques like Kaiming or Xavier

File generated on 15 February 2025 at 1:54 PM Page 1 of 2


SCDS1001 - Artificial Intelligence Literacy I
L-3: Rise of Neural Networks and Deep Learning

initialization can help ensure efficient learning. The starting point of these weights significantly impacts
the model’s convergence and eventual performance.

3. Forward Propagation
In forward propagation, input data is processed through the network’s layers to produce an output. Each
layer performs the following steps:
1. Combine inputs from the previous layer.
2. Multiply them by the current layer’s weights.
3. Apply an activation function (e.g., ReLU or sigmoid).
The choice of activation function affects the network's ability to learn complex, non-linear relationships
in data.

4. Cost Function
The cost function measures the error by comparing the network’s predicted output to the actual value.
The goal is to minimize this cost, which reflects how well the network is learning. Different tasks require
different cost functions, such as mean squared error for regression or cross-entropy for classification.

5. Back Propagation
In backpropagation, the network adjusts its weights to reduce the error calculated by the cost function.
Using a method called gradient descent, the network makes small adjustments to minimize the cost.
Advanced optimizers like Adam can adapt learning rates during this process, improving efficiency.
Training continues until adjustments no longer significantly reduce the cost.

6. Completion
Completing the training process doesn’t mean the model is perfected. Continuous evaluation, validation,
and fine-tuning are necessary to ensure the model generalizes well to unseen data. Techniques like
cross-validation and regularization help maintain the model’s accuracy and prevent overfitting.

Applications of Neural Networks


Image Recognition
Neural networks are widely used in image recognition to identify objects, such as recognizing animals
or detecting anomalies in medical imaging. Applications span fields like healthcare (e.g., cancer
detection) and security (e.g., facial recognition). However, challenges such as bias in training data and
ethical concerns about privacy must be addressed.

Language Prediction
Neural networks power language prediction by analyzing vast amounts of text data. These systems can
predict the next word in a sentence or generate coherent content, enabling advancements in natural
language processing (NLP). Applications include chatbots, automated translation, and virtual assistants.
Despite their success, ethical concerns, bias in language models, and the need for extensive training
data remain important considerations.

File generated on 15 February 2025 at 1:54 PM Page 2 of 2

You might also like