Neural network
Also known as: net
A neural network is the core machine: a big web of simple units. Each unit takes numbers in, does a tiny bit of math, and passes numbers out to the next layer. Billions of these, stacked, is what a modern model is.
You don’t program what each unit does. Instead, training adjusts the connections (the weights) until the network as a whole produces good outputs.
| Piece | Analogy |
|---|---|
| Unit / neuron | one tiny calculation |
| Layer | one stage of processing |
| Weight | a dial that tuning turns |
| Network | the whole machine of all of it |
Honest note: the brain inspiration is mostly marketing. Real neurons don't work like this — but the stacked-layer design turned out to be extraordinarily good at pattern learning.