Artificial Intelligence: The Evolution of Deep Learning

Deep learning, a field in machine learning relying on learning data representations as opposed to task-specific algorithms, is experiencing a great and fairly sudden storm of enthusiasm and excitement after over twenty years of relative quietness. Delivering big technology breakthroughs recently, it has been regarded as a major driver towards artificial intelligence by many observers. The AI industry has spurred countless investments and acquisitions over the past years. In 2017, AI startups in the UK raised £488m, according to Pitchbook, more than twice as much as in the previous year. Furthermore, the country hosted four of the biggest acquisitions of AI startups over the past five years, including Google/DeepMind, Apple/VocalIQ, Microsoft/SwiftKey and Twitter/Magic Pony. Very generally speaking, deep learning models are based on information processing and communication patterns in biological nervous systems and represent coding attempts to define relationships between certain stimuli and associated responses in the brain in a mathematically convenient way.