The history of neural networks dates back to the 1800s, when scientists used the simplest mathematical models to predict the orbits of planets. With the advancement of technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have gradually evolved to establish an architecture for automatic recognition and reasoning, which is now called Feedforward Neural Networks.
Feedforward neural networks can generate outputs by multiplying inputs by weights, allowing the calculation results to be quickly and efficiently performed on a variety of recognition tasks.
The key to these networks is their unidirectional data flow, in contrast to recurrent neural networks (RNNs) which have feedback loops. Even so, the feedforward structure remains the cornerstone for doing backpropagation, which is the primary method for training neural networks.
The activation function plays a key role in this process, helping neurons decide whether to fire. Traditionally, two common activation functions are the hyperbolic tangent and the logistic function. The output ranges of these functions are -1 to 1 and 0 to 1 respectively, allowing the network to process a variety of forms of data.
Learning is achieved by adjusting the connection weights after each piece of data is processed, so as to minimize the error between the actual output and the expected output.
Over time, the structure of neural networks has become more and more complex, one of the most notable examples is the multilayer perceptron (MLP). This structure consists of multiple layers and can process non-linearly separable data, making it more capable of solving more complex problems.
Following the development of neural networks is the evolution of their learning algorithms. Especially after the rise of deep learning, the backpropagation algorithm has been widely used. This approach was first popularized by Paul Wilbers and David Rumelhart, whose research laid the foundation for the subsequent reshaping of AI.
From a historical perspective, the development of neural networks is full of breakthroughs and challenges. It is not only a technological advancement, but also the crystallization of human wisdom.
The technology of effectively applying neural networks lies not only in the design of the structure, but also in choosing appropriate data modeling and processing methods. For example, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are becoming increasingly popular due to their excellent performance in image processing, while radial basis function networks (RBFNs) play an important role in some special fields.
Like all scientific and technological evolutions, the future of artificial intelligence is constantly changing as history continues. In such a data-driven era, how to master and apply these cutting-edge technologies has become a challenge that every researcher and practitioner needs to face.
Over time, will neural networks rewrite our lives as expected?