What You Absolutely Need to Know about CNNs

CNN stands for Convolutional Neural Networks. It's a class of neural networks that is usually used for image recognition and is based on the idea of … well, convolution. Essentially, convolution here is the way the information is processed by artificial neurons: they take advantage of the hierarchical pattern in images and assemble more complex patterns using smaller and simpler patterns. The neurons are grouped into layers where each layer tries to recognize certain level of detail in small rectangular areas of a picture: neurons in the first layer strive to find lines and dots, then they hand over their findings to the next level, whose task is to analyze the lines and dots and see if they can form a nose, an eye or an ear. The last layer will convolve the found parts into a human face or … not.