What is a neural network?

A neural network is a type of machine learning algorithm inspired by the human brain. It’s a powerful tool that excels at solving complex problems more difficult for traditional computer algorithms to handle, such as image recognition and natural language processing.


Composed of interconnected nodes called neurons, neural networks arrange these units in layers. Each neuron receives input from others, processes it, and transmits an output to other neurons. Connections between neurons have associated weights, signifying the connection strength. During training, the network adjusts these weights to refine its performance on a given task. This learning process allows them to make predictions and recognize patterns, driving their wide adoption in diverse applications like image recognition, natural language processing, and machine translation.



How do neural networks work?

Learning in neural networks occurs by creating connections and adjusting the weights of connections between neurons through a process called training. This involves feeding the network large datasets which it then uses to refine its weights to minimize errors between its predictions and the actual values. This process is similar to how humans learn, where repeated exposure helps recognize patterns.


A technique called backpropagation facilitates this weight adjustment. Backpropagation calculates the error in the output and propagates it back through the network, iteratively adjusting weights until a desired accuracy level is achieved. Once trained, the network can make predictions on new data, such as identifying cats in images.

Examples of neural networks

Beyond broad applications, here are specific examples of neural networks in action:


  • Handwriting Recognition: Digitizing handwritten documents or automating mail sorting benefits from neural networks' ability to recognize handwritten characters.


  • Facial Recognition: Security systems, social media tagging, and personalized advertising utilize the power of neural networks for facial recognition.


  • Medical Image Analysis: Detecting anomalies in medical images like X-rays and MRI scans is made possible through neural networks, aiding disease diagnosis and treatment planning.


Types of neural networks

We categorize neural networks based on their architecture, training methods, and uses. Common types include:


  • Feedforward Neural Networks: This basic type processes data linearly from input to output, without loops. They're commonly used for straightforward tasks like classification and regression.
  • Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs): Designed for sequential data like time series or natural language, RNNs use a feedback loop to retain memories of previous inputs, making them suitable for data with a time component.
  • Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs): Specifically designed for image-related tasks, CNNs extract features from images using a convolutional layer, which identifies patterns like edges and shapes.
  • Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs): Composed of a generator and a discriminator, GANs pit these two components against each other. The generator creates data while the discriminator assesses its authenticity. This adversarial process results in the generator producing increasingly realistic data, often used for generating images, videos, and audio.


Importance of neural networks

Neural networks are becoming an essential tool for many businesses and organizations.

Here are some reasons why they are so important:

  • Automation: Automating tasks that were previously done by humans, such as customer service, data analysis, and image processing can be assisted by neural networks. This can save businesses time and money.
  • Improved Decision-Making: Businesses can make better decisions by providing insights that would be difficult or impossible to obtain using traditional methods.
  • Increased Efficiency: Business processes can be improved by automating tasks, reducing errors, and improving decision-making.
  • New Products and Services: Businesses are enabled to create new products and services that would not be possible without AI.

Neural network applications and uses

Neural networks can be used in a wide range of applications, including:

Image recognition

Identifying objects in images finds uses in self-driving cars, social media platforms, and medical diagnoses.

Natural Language Processing (NLP)

Machine translation, text summarization, and sentiment analysis are made possible with neural networks, powering tools like Google Translate and chatbots.

Financial modeling

Neural networks may help financial institutions by analyzing historical financial data, and identifying trends and patterns that can be used to help consider investment decisions. They may also be used for risk management, fraud detection, and portfolio optimization.

Medical diagnosis

With the assistance of neural networks, diagnosing diseases and predicting patient outcomes may be possible through using medical data to identify patterns that are associated with specific diseases. This may help doctors make more accurate diagnoses and develop personalized treatment plans.

Robotics

The movements of robots may be controlled and trained to perform complex tasks, such as assembly, welding, and surgery. Neural networks can also be used in robot navigation and path planning.

Self-driving vehicles

Powering the vision systems in self-driving cars can be done by identifying objects like pedestrians, traffic lights, and other vehicles, and then making decisions about how to drive safely. Neural networks can also help with tasks like lane keeping, adaptive cruise control, and collision avoidance.

Fraud detection

Detecting fraudulent transactions can be done by analyzing data from credit card transactions, where these networks identify patterns that are associated with fraud. This can help banks and other financial institutions to prevent fraudulent activity.

Spam Filtering

Filtering spam emails can be done by analyzing the content of emails, where neural networks can help identify patterns that are associated with spam. This may help users to avoid receiving unwanted emails.

Neural network advantages

There are several advantages neural networks have over traditional computer algorithms, including:

  • Adaptability: Neural networks can learn and adapt to new data, making them more flexible and robust than traditional algorithms.
  • Non-Linearity: Complex non-linear relationships in data can be learned, which is something that traditional algorithms struggle with.
  • Parallel Processing: Neural networks can be parallelized, meaning that they can be run on multiple processors simultaneously, making them faster and more efficient.
  • Fault Tolerance: They are tolerant of noise and missing data, making them more reliable than traditional algorithms.
  • Generalization: Can generalize to new data that they have not been trained on, making them more versatile than traditional algorithms.

Neural networks and deep learning

Deep learning is a powerful technique within machine learning that utilizes neural networks with multiple layers. These deeper networks excel at identifying intricate patterns within vast datasets, revolutionizing areas such as image and language processing.


For example, deep learning enables self-driving cars to detect objects on the road, empowers language models to generate human-like text, fuels recommendation systems that suggest personalized content, and aids in medical diagnoses through image analysis.



The key distinction between traditional neural networks and deep learning lies in their depth, with deep learning networks incorporating far more layers. This increased depth allows them to tackle complex problems and process vast amounts of data that would overwhelm simpler networks.

Solve your business challenges with Google Cloud

New customers get $300 in free credits to spend on Google Cloud.
Talk to a Google Cloud sales specialist to discuss your unique challenge in more detail.

Take the next step

Start building on Google Cloud with $300 in free credits and 20+ always free products.

Google Cloud
  • ‪English‬
  • ‪Deutsch‬
  • ‪Español‬
  • ‪Español (Latinoamérica)‬
  • ‪Français‬
  • ‪Indonesia‬
  • ‪Italiano‬
  • ‪Português (Brasil)‬
  • ‪简体中文‬
  • ‪繁體中文‬
  • ‪日本語‬
  • ‪한국어‬
Console
Google Cloud