Neural Networks: A Primer

Machine learning and deep learning are becoming widely adopted areas in developing innovative solutions. This talk aims to be a primer of neural networks; including the inspiration and intuition behind the concept, and the knowledge and tools one can acquire to start learning and experimenting.

As members of the technology industry, we are often bombarded with new jargon, new buzzwords, and new concepts from news and developments around the world. Artificial intelligence(AI), machine learning(ML), and neural networks(NN) all fall into that category of buzz words. This talk dives into the concept of neural networks. Neural networks are known as something used in machine learning, but few people understand how they work and the potential power of them. This talk includes how neural networks fit into AI, the historic inspiration, the intuition for how neural networks operate, the mathematical knowledge required for working with neural networks, the use cases for neural networks, and programming tools and frameworks that can assist one in developing machine learning applications using neural networks.

The Nature of AI Algorithms

No one can agree what artificial intelligence is, but let's put the definition a side and take a deep dive into the various approaches and algorithms used to achieve AI with code and visual examples which may be more applicable to your real-world problem spaces, instead of trying to build a super intelligence overlord!

Artificial intelligence is a huge field. Approaches like machine learning and deep learning have taken the news headlines, but there are many more simpler approaches to solving problems – and much of the time can be more suitable in your context. This talk dives into AI algorithm approaches, not from a theoretical angle, but from an algorithmic perspective with practical, visual, code examples of how they work, and what problems they solve. This talk will touch on concepts including the nature of data and algorithms, planning and searching, evolutionary algorithms, machine learning, reinforcement learning, artificial immune systems, and more. You will walk away equipped with the building blocks of AI that you can wield to your will.

A history of my talks can be found here: https://rhurbans.com/. I am also working with Manning Publications to write a book on this topic which is currently in development. By March 2019, the book will be available in early access online.