Neural Networks

As the hottest topic in machine learning over the past decade, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention neural networks. Hailed for outstanding accuracy in difficult domains like image recognition and language translation, they’ve also generated criticism for lacking interpretability.

Nobody understands how these systems — neural networks modelled on the human brain — produce their results. Computer scientists “train” each one by feeding it data, and it gradually learns. But once a neural net is working well, it’s a black box.