How Neural Networks Are Making Technology Smarter

The ability to learn, interpret, adapt and evolve has always set humans apart from machines. But is that gap closing?

Human brains contain about 86 billion neurons, interconnected by an incredibly complex system of pathways known as synapses. Neurons function by passing electrical charges to each other via the synapses, resulting in active / inactive - or true / false - responses. It’s why humans are so good at pattern recognition, enabling us to read, speak, and tell thousands of faces from one another.

A form of algebra fundamental to computing, known as Boolean logic, also relies on true (1) or false (0) values. A large enough computer system using Boolean could do a passable job of imitating the brain - otherwise known as a neural network.

But it’s not all plain sailing where neural networks are concerned – just ask Amazon and Tesla...