Neural Networks
Definition
The structure most modern AI is built on, loosely inspired by the way brain cells connect. It's a web of simple mathematical units that pass signals to each other, adjusting their connections as they learn from data. The word "neural" makes it sound biological. It isn't, really. It's maths arranged in layers, and the layers are where the learning happens.
Why It Matters
Almost every AI tool you use runs on a neural network of some kind. Knowing the term helps you see past the brain metaphor to what's actually going on.
What does that look like in practice?
When a banking app reads the numbers off a photographed cheque, a neural network is recognising the digits.
What people actually mean when they say this
When someone says AI 'works like the brain,' they mean it uses neural networks, which borrow the idea loosely. It's layers of maths, not biology.
Last reviewed: June 2026
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