Deep Learning
A subset of machine learning that uses neural networks with many layers (hence "deep") to learn complex patterns. Deep learning powers image generation, natural language processing, speech recognition, and autonomous systems.
Why this matters
Deep learning is the specific technology that made the current AI revolution possible. Before deep learning, AI couldn't generate images, write coherent paragraphs, or understand speech reliably. Every major AI tool uses deep learning.
Real-world example
Midjourney uses deep learning (specifically diffusion models) to generate images. ElevenLabs uses deep learning to synthesize realistic speech. Cursor uses deep learning language models to suggest code. "Deep" refers to the number of neural network layers — GPT-4 has over 100 layers.