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What is deep learning in AI?
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Art deco aesthetic, minimalist image representing deep learning as a tool to transform messy data into actionable insights. The image features an abstract human brain with neural network patterns evolving from chaotic, tangled data on the left side to structured, clear patterns on the right side. The background includes geometric shapes and lines, symbolizing data flow, analysis, and the progression from complexity to clarity.—What is deep learning, by Talbot West

What is deep learning in AI?

By Jacob Andra / Published August 27, 2024 
Last Updated: August 27, 2024

Deep learning is a subset of machine learning where computers learn to recognize patterns and make decisions through multi-layered neural networks. These networks mimic the human brain by learning from large amounts of data to perform tasks such as image and speech recognition, and language translation.

Main takeaways
Deep learning uses layered neural networks to learn from complex data.
It powers voice assistants, facial recognition, self-driving cars, and LLMs.
It uses large datasets to adjust neuron connections and recognize patterns.
Deep learning requires large datasets and lots of compute.

How does deep learning work?

Building on the foundational concepts of artificial intelligence and machine learning, deep learning represents a more advanced, specialized approach to training computers to learn and make decisions. Unlike traditional machine learning techniques that often rely on pre-defined rules or manual feature extraction, deep learning leverages artificial neural networks to automatically identify patterns in vast amounts of data.

This ability to learn directly from raw data without extensive manual intervention allows deep learning models to excel in handling complex tasks that involve unstructured data such as images, text, and speech.

Here's how deep learning works:

  • Data input: The process begins with feeding diverse data into the neural network. This can include text, images, audio, or sensor data.
  • Data preprocessing: Data undergoes preprocessing, such as normalization or tokenization, to make it suitable for analysis.
  • Neural network structure: The neural network consists of layers of interconnected nodes:
  1. Input layer: Receives the preprocessed data.
  2. Hidden layers: Perform computations to detect patterns or features within the data.
  3. Output layer: Produces the final prediction or classification based on the input data.
  • Feature extraction and learning: As data moves through the layers, the network automatically learns to extract relevant features. Early layers might detect simple features such as edges in images or common phrases in text, while deeper layers identify more complex patterns.
  • Weight adjustment and training: The network adjusts the weights of connections between nodes based on the error of its predictions. This iterative process, known as backpropagation, fine-tunes the model to improve accuracy.
  • Output generation: Once trained, the network can make predictions or generate insights from new data it has not seen before.

The neural networks within deep learning can automatically extract and learn from intricate patterns in vast amounts of unstructured data—a feat that traditional machine learning often struggles with.

Deep learning vs machine learning: what is the difference?

Deep learning is a subset of machine learning, which is a broad field within AI that employs algorithms to learn from data and improve performance over time.

Deep learning is often contrasted with traditional machine learning; here are some distinguishing factors that make deep learning more advanced:

AspectMachine learningDeep learning

Data requirements

Can work with smaller datasets

Needs vast amounts of data

Feature engineering

Requires manual future engineering

Often automates feature extraction

Computational power

Requires less computational power

Demands more computational power

Training time

Faster to train

Takes more time to train models

Interpretability

Models are more interpretable

Models can be “black boxes,” harder to interpret

Performance on unstructured data

Less effective

Often better at handling unstructured data (images, audio, text)

To further understand the capabilities of deep learning, let's explore the different types of deep learning models and their specific applications.

Deep learning models

Deep learning algorithms are incredibly complex. They use different types of neural networks to tackle specific problems and datasets. Each type is developed sequentially to address limitations in preceding models.

  • Convolutional neural networks (CNNs): These networks process grid-like data structures, such as images. CNNs use convolutional layers to automatically and hierarchically detect spatial patterns (like edges, textures, and shapes) in visual data. They are used in image recognition, computer vision, and video analysis.
  • Recurrent neural networks (RNNs): RNNs are tailored for sequential data, where the order of input data matters. They maintain an internal state or "memory" to capture information about previous inputs. This is essential for tasks such as time series forecasting, language modeling, and any scenario where contextual information across a sequence is important.
  • Long short-term memory networks (LSTMs): LSTMs are a specialized type of RNN. They handle long-term dependencies in sequential data. Their unique memory cell structure allows them to overcome the vanishing gradient problem often encountered in standard RNNs, making them particularly useful for tasks requiring long-term memory, such as speech recognition and natural language processing.
  • Generative adversarial networks (GANs): GANs consist of two neural networks, a generator and a discriminator, that work against each other. The generator creates new data samples, while the discriminator evaluates them against real data. This dynamic makes GANs powerful for generating realistic synthetic data, including images, music, and text.
  • Transformers: These models use self-attention mechanisms to process and relate different parts of the input data. This allows them to capture long-range dependencies more effectively than traditional RNNs. Transformers have revolutionized natural language processing by enabling better language understanding, translation, and text generation and are now being applied in other domains such as vision.
  • Autoencoders: Autoencoders learn efficient representations of data by attempting to reconstruct their input. They are particularly useful for tasks such as dimensionality reduction, feature learning, and generating compressed representations of data, which simplify complex datasets and enhance further analysis.

Talbot West specializes in advanced data preprocessing services to prepare your internal knowledge base for seamless AI implementation and integration. Leveraging cutting-edge deep learning techniques, our experts ensure your data is primed for powerful AI-driven insights.

Work with Talbot West

Deep learning examples

Art deco aesthetic, minimalist image of a sleek, futuristic autonomous vehicle on a road. The vehicle is surrounded by digital waves and icons representing cameras, LIDAR, and sensors, connected with dynamic neural network lines. Background with vibrant, geometric patterns indicating data processing and AI-driven decision-making—What is deep learning, by Talbot West

Deep learning models are transforming industries by offering innovative solutions to complex problems. Businesses can leverage deep learning to stay competitive and drive growth through smarter, data-driven decisions.

A 2022 study addresses the issue of inconsistent explanations in deep learning models, particularly in sensitive fields such as healthcare and finance. The researchers developed a novel ensemble architecture that significantly improves explanation consistency across different datasets, with increases ranging from 124% to 315%. This can enhance the adoption of deep learning in industries requiring high transparency.

Here are some examples of how deep learning is being applied across these diverse fields.

Automotive

In the automotive industry, deep learning algorithms such as CNNs and RNNs are essential for autonomous vehicles. These models process data from cameras, LIDAR, and other sensors, enabling self-driving cars to navigate, recognize traffic signs, and detect obstacles. Deep learning is employed in predictive maintenance, analyzing sensor data from vehicles to predict potential failures and optimize maintenance schedules.

Healthcare

Deep learning offers many applications in healthcare. CNNs can analyze medical images such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, aiding in the early detection and diagnosis of diseases like cancer and neurological disorders. Deep learning models also analyze patient data to tailor personalized treatment plans and predict individual responses to different therapies.

Construction

Deep learning AI enhances construction site safety by analyzing video feeds to detect unsafe practices and ensure compliance with regulations. It improves project management by predicting timelines and resource needs through historical data analysis. This allows construction managers to optimize scheduling and allocate resources more effectively.

Education

Deep learning algorithms power adaptive learning platforms in the education industry by tailoring educational content to meet individual student needs. This improves learning outcomes. AI models can also automate the grading of assignments and exams and offer rapid and consistent feedback to students while significantly reducing the workload for educators.

Chinese researchers developed an AI-powered intelligent piano teaching system that uses deep learning to accurately detect piano notes. The system, which combines a Dual Neural Network for note onset detection with AI-driven instruction methods, achieved 94% accuracy and has been well-received by children and parents for enhancing piano learning.

Non-profit

Deep learning benefits the non-profit industry by enhancing resource allocation through the analysis of demographic and socioeconomic data. AI models optimize fundraising by analyzing donor data to identify patterns and predict future donations, enabling non-profits to craft more effective fundraising strategies and maximize contributions. This leads to more efficient operations and greater impact in serving their missions.

To enhance your understanding of deep learning and its potential applications, consult with Talbot West. Our expertise in this field can help you leverage advanced AI techniques for smarter decision-making and innovative solutions.

Challenges of deep learning

Here are some of the hurdles, complexities, bottlenecks, and roadblocks to deep learning implementation.

  • Deep learning models require vast amounts of high-quality, relevant data to perform effectively. Obtaining such data can be challenging, as it involves not only collecting large quantities of information but also ensuring the data's accuracy, proper organization, and relevance to the task at hand.
  • Deep learning algorithms demand significant compute resources.
  • Integrating deep learning models into existing technological frameworks can require substantial adjustments. This process can be complex and time-consuming, potentially disrupting established workflows and necessitating broader system changes.
  • The intricate nature of deep learning models can make their decision-making processes difficult to understand. This lack of transparency, often referred to as the "black box" problem, can be a significant drawback, especially in fields where understanding the rationale behind decisions is crucial, such as healthcare or finance.
  • Balancing a model’s performance on training data versus new, unseen data is challenging. Deep learning models can easily overfit the training data, performing well on known data but poorly on new inputs. Achieving the right level of generalization without overfitting requires careful model tuning and extensive testing.
  • As deep learning models become more involved in decision-making processes, ensuring fairness, avoiding bias, and protecting privacy become critical issues. Addressing these ethical concerns is necessary but complex, requiring thoughtful design and ongoing oversight.
  • The performance of deep learning models can degrade over time as new data becomes available or as the environment in which they operate changes. Maintaining model accuracy often requires continuous learning and regular updates, which can be resource-intensive and technically challenging.

Despite these challenges, deep learning remains a powerful tool for analyzing complex data and solving sophisticated problems. At Talbot West, we specialize in helping organizations overcome these obstacles through tailored deep-learning strategies and expert guidance.

If you want to implement deep learning solutions to drive innovation and achieve your strategic goals, contact Talbot West.

Reach out to Talbot West

Talbot West is your trusted guide in navigating the complexities of AI integration. Whether you're looking to enhance information retrieval, automate document classification, or gain deeper insights from your internal data, we’re here to help.

Our bespoke AI services include the following:

Schedule a free consultation with our AI experts.

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Deep learning FAQ

Deep learning gets its name from the multilayered neural network architectures it employs. These networks consist of many processing layers, including hidden layers that progressively extract higher-level features from the data.

Unlike traditional machine learning, deep learning can automatically learn hierarchical representations, with each subsequent layer building upon the features learned in previous layers. This depth allows deep learning networks to capture complex patterns in data, making it particularly effective for tasks like image classification, object detection, and natural language processing.

Deep AI, powered by deep learning technology, can perform a wide variety of complex tasks that previously required human intelligence. It excels at processing unstructured data such as images, speech, and text. Some key applications include:

  • Facial recognition and object detection in images and video
  • Speech recognition and language translation
  • Medical diagnosis, including analysis of medical images
  • Fraud detection in financial transactions
  • Customer service through chatbots and virtual assistants
  • Predictive modeling for business forecasting

Deep learning systems can achieve a high level of accuracy, often surpassing human performance in specific tasks. They're also capable of real-time processing, making them valuable for applications such as autonomous vehicles and real-time language translation.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the broadest term, encompassing all efforts to create intelligent machines that can simulate human-like intelligence. Machine learning (ML) is a subset of AI that focuses on algorithms that can learn from and make predictions or decisions based on data. Deep learning (DL) is a specialized branch of machine learning that uses deep neural networks to learn from large amounts of data.

AI includes rule-based systems and other approaches beyond just learning from data. Machine learning algorithms include decision trees, support vector machines, and simple neural networks. DL specifically uses deep neural network architectures with multiple layers, enabling it to automatically learn feature representations from raw data.

While all DL is ML, and all ML is AI, not all AI is ML, and not all ML is DL.

DL has shown remarkable success in areas such as computer vision and natural language processing, often outperforming traditional ML approaches in these domains.

Deep learning often outperforms traditional machine learning for several reasons:

  1. Automatic feature extraction: DL can learn relevant features directly from raw data, reducing the need for manual feature engineering.
  2. Handling complex data: deep networks can process high-dimensional, unstructured data more effectively.
  3. Scalability: DL models often improve with more data and larger models, while traditional ML models may plateau.
  4. Transfer learning: pre-trained DL models can be fine-tuned for new tasks, saving time and resources.
  5. Performance: for many tasks, especially in computer vision and natural language processing, DL achieves higher levels of accuracy.

DL isn't always better. Traditional ML can be more appropriate for smaller datasets, when interpretability is crucial, or when computational resources are limited.

ChatGPT is a product of deep learning, specifically using a type of deep neural network called a transformer. The term "deep AI" is broad and could refer to different deep learning systems designed for different tasks.

ChatGPT excels at natural language processing tasks, but other deep learning systems might perform better in different domains such as image recognition or speech processing. The effectiveness of an AI system depends on its specific architecture, training data, and the task at hand.

AI capabilities are rapidly evolving, with new models and techniques constantly being developed. Comparisons between systems can quickly become outdated.

OpenAI extensively uses deep learning in its research and products. Their most famous models, including GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) which powers ChatGPT, are based on deep learning architectures. OpenAI employs some of the following deep learning techniques:

  • Unsupervised learning for pre-training on large datasets
  • Deep reinforcement learning for tasks like robotic control
  • Generative models for creating new content
  • Transfer learning to adapt models to new tasks

OpenAI has been at the forefront of developing large language models and pushing the boundaries of what's possible with deep learning in natural language processing and other domains.

AI is the broadest term, encompassing all efforts to create intelligent machines. This includes not just learning from data, but also rule-based systems, planning, and other approaches to mimic human intelligence.

ML is a subset of AI that focuses on algorithms that can learn from data without being explicitly programmed. This includes techniques such as decision trees, support vector machines, and simple neural networks.

NN (neural networks) are a specific type of machine learning model inspired by the human brain. They consist of interconnected nodes (neurons) organized in layers. Deep learning uses neural networks with many layers (deep neural networks).

In essence, neural networks are a type of machine learning, which is a type of artificial intelligence. Not all AI is ML (e.g., expert systems), and not all ML uses neural networks (e.g., decision trees). Deep learning specifically refers to the use of deep (many-layered) neural networks.

Generative AI is often implemented using deep learning techniques. Generative AI refers to AI systems that can create new content, such as images, text, or music, that resembles their training data. Many powerful generative AI models use deep learning architectures:

  1. Generative adversarial networks (GANs) consist of two neural networks competing against each other, one generating content and the other discriminating real from fake.
  2. Variational autoencoders (VAEs) are another type of deep generative model used for creating new data.
  3. Transformer-based models such as GPT use deep learning to generate human-like text.

Generative AI leverages the power of deep neural networks to learn complex patterns in data and then generate new, similar data. This has led to breakthroughs in areas like image generation, text completion, and even music composition. The field of generative AI is rapidly evolving, with new architectures and techniques constantly being developed to improve the quality and diversity of generated content.

Resources

  • Watson, M., Shiekh Hasan, B. A., & Moubayed, N. A. (2022). Using model explanations to guide deep learning models towards consistent explanations for EHR data. Scientific Reports, 12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-24356-6

     

  • Lei, S., & Liu, H. (2022). Deep Learning Dual Neural Networks in the Construction of Learning Models for Online Courses in Piano Education. Computational Intelligence and Neuroscience, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/4408288

     

About the author

Jacob Andra is an entrepreneur, author, and AI expert living in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is the founder of Talbot West, an AI advisory firm. He loves the outdoors, travel, fitness, fatherhood, history, and adventure.
Jacob Andra

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