Neural Network
A computing system inspired by the human brain, made up of layers of interconnected nodes (neurons) that process information. Neural networks are the architecture behind deep learning, image recognition, and language models.
Why this matters
Neural networks are the "brain" inside every AI tool. GPT-4 is a neural network with hundreds of billions of parameters. Understanding neural networks helps you grasp why bigger models cost more, why training is expensive, and why some tasks are harder for AI than others.
Real-world example
When you upload a photo to remove the background with PhotoRoom, a neural network identifies the subject pixel by pixel. When ChatGPT writes a response, a neural network with 1.8 trillion parameters activates to predict each word. The quality of the neural network determines the quality of the tool.