New to Neural Networks? Here’s How You Can Prepare for the Next Wave of Automation

You know you’re living in the future when artificial intelligence (AI) can beat Go champions, write screenplays, paint pictures, and even dream.

What’s the technology behind all these recent advancements in machine learning? Neural networks—sets of machine learning algorithms that draw inspiration from the architecture of the human brain to create a network of artificial neurons.

Learn more with these three articles curated from Upwork’s Hiring Headquarters to help you prepare for the next wave of automation.

The basics of neural networks

Machine learning, deep learning, neural networks—the tech community certainly loves its buzzwords. But if you’re going to be able to take advantage of this new and disruptive tech, you first must develop an understanding of the basics.

In “Neural Networks Demystified,” Tyler Keenan explains:

“We know that computers are better than people at crunching series of numbers, but what about tasks that are more complex? How do you teach a computer what a cat looks like? Or how to drive a car? Or how to play a complex strategy game? Or make predictions about the stock market? These are some of the most difficult tasks in artificial intelligence, far outstripping the capabilities of normal machine learning techniques. In these cases, computer scientists turn to neural networks.”

Keenan gives a thorough rundown of what neural networks actually are and how they fit into the bigger world of machine learning. From the basic concepts behind building a neural network to a quick rundown of the major tools and skills you’ll need to get started, this article is an excellent introduction. Get the full story…

Deep learning meets big business

At the cutting edge of neural networks are deep learning algorithms, which have many more layers of artificial neurons than the norm. From Google’s image and voice recognition algorithms to Amazon’s shopping cart suggestions, there are many examples of deep learning making an impact in business.

In “What Deep Learning Can Offer to Businesses,” Sergii Shelpuk of ELEKS explains:

“Businesses are well aware that in the modern world data is the key to well-informed, sound decisions and reliable predictions. Companies have been continuously looking for better ways of leveraging the data they collect in order to make better decisions. Deep learning today not only offers them better accuracy of data processing – when compared to conventional models – but also solutions to the problems that were previously unsolvable.”

In this article, Shelpuk dives into the major ways neural networks have been employed by the business community. From the basics of natural language processing (NLP), to deep learning’s growing role in image recognition, to ELEK’s success using deep learning to automatically color black and white photos and film—this post is full of detailed case studies that are sure to clarify how you might start taking advantage of deep learning in your next project. Learn more by reading the full article…

Catching the next wave of automation

There’s something different about the coming wave of automation. Previous waves involved replacing manual labor with physical machines and streamlining production into assembly lines. Today, we’re beginning to automate human cognition. The implications of this paradigm shift are huge, and if you don’t want to be left behind, solid positioning is the key.

As Keenan explains in “The Automation Wave Is Coming, Is Your Team Ready?”

“The next wave of automation is being powered by many of the same factors that have driven the big data revolution: New sources and increased volumes of data, powerful tools (like Hadoop and Spark) that can quickly process that data and produce actionable insights, and advanced machine learning algorithms and neural networks that put those insights into action. How are each of these trends upending traditional business practices, and how can you use them to your organization’s advantage?”

Keenan goes on to talk about some of the major trends driving the next wave of automation. From using predictive analytics to make the most of historical data and gain new insights about your customers, to neural networks assisting businesses with computer vision and NLP, to providing more reliable tools to data analysts, there are many ways you could be taking advantage of these disruptive technologies today.

He finishes off with a handy checklist for how you can position yourself to catch the next wave of automation.

Eager to learn more about AI? Check out more articles about the NLP in the Hiring Headquarters >>

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