Demystifying AI:The phrases that are popular in the field of technology, such as “artificial intelligence,” and related technologies like machine learning, artificial neural networks, and deep learning, are both straightforward and intricate expressions. These keywords are either catalysts or facilitators of upcoming analytics. The integration of nascent technologies has become a routine aspect of our lives, and we utilize them consciously or subconsciously.
Artificial Intelligence – Introduction
Artificial Intelligence: When people talk about Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Deep Learning (DL), and Artificial Neural Networks or Neural Networks, they use the words in different ways but most of the time interchangeably. However, each term actually has its own definition, meaning, purpose, and connection to the others. Let’s understand the idea of AI as described below. These popular terms will be effective not just in the field of data analysis but also have a significant significance in our personal and professional lives.
In this post, we will attempt to demystify some use cases of machine learning and deep learning at a high level to make them clear. To name a few industries where these technologies are already making a difference: healthcare, finance, payments, e-commerce, manufacturing, engineering services, etc.
Machine Learning(ML) – Basic Terminologies in Context
The collaboration among 3 key sciences i.e. AI, Physics and Photography helps to improve how pictures are processed, how computers see things, how lenses work, and all photography technology. Machines that are very clever and have been taught well can do things that people usually do with their minds, like understanding things, thinking logically, learning new things, and deciding what to do. AI helps machines become really smart by using tools and strategies. This tells us everything we need to make smart systems, both in theory and practice.
Let’s Understand a Bit
Let’s make it simple to understand “how all-encompassing terms are actually correlated and speak to each other”. Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, BlockChain, etc. are all the golden words of today’s time. Almost every technology (now even non-technology) company on this planet is claiming a share of extra revenue by putting these buzzwords on their product displays.

Getting lost and not seeing the difference between hype and reality is easy. Reality and real benefits are getting lost here in the race of these buzzwords swirling around everything. In AILabPage’s view, all these terms are representative of future analytics. Sometimes it is good to un-develop something existing to uncover the hidden gems underneath. Maybe it’s like un-develop to innovate”?
In the past, Alan Turing published the “Turing Test,” which speculates on the possibility of creating machines that think. To pass the test, a computer must be able to carry on a conversation that is indistinct from a conversation with a human being.
Confusing Jargons – AI, ML and Many More
Defining confusing jargon like AI, ML, data science, DL, and ANN with no scientific reasoning or meaning can create huge understanding gaps. Each of these buzzwords has its own meaning and use cases. One needs to be careful about when to use what and for what reasons.
The AI definition also includes things like understanding language, planning, recognizing objects and sounds, and problem-solving.
It is all about time, and the right learning algorithms make all the difference. The below examples clarify a little more about the basic concept of artificial intelligence.
- A simple mathematical calculation or the product of two given numbers shows that any computer can beat any human in terms of speed and accuracy.
- On the other hand, to identify whether an image has a dog or a cat, most humans (even a four-year-old kid) will easily outperform computers.
In scenarios like Example 2 above, where artificial intelligence has to play a critical role to show its power, An animal picture is a dog, cat, etc. AI doesn’t need to demystify anything more, as its metaheuristic approach has almost overshadowed it. Near-natural intelligence technologies and the computational power of cognitive systems techniques are real now.
Algorithm – The Set Of Instructions!
In an algorithm, a set of rules gets followed to solve problems, so in short, an algorithm is a set of rules or instructions. In machine learning, algorithms are key elements that take on the data and process all the rules to get some responses. This processing makes the algorithm complex or easy. One thing is clear here: the more data, the stronger the algorithm gets over time.
Algorithms are supposed to work much faster, more accurately, and self-resiliently to demonstrate their capabilities, which are far beyond those of humans. No algorithm can be considered good or bad, but surely it can be data- or resource-hungry. Algorithms need to be trained to learn how to classify and process information.
To simulate the mapping of inputs to outputs as it happens in a human brain, which makes very difficult tasks for computers like image recognition, sarcasm detection, voice recognition, etc.
The efficiency and accuracy of the algorithm are dependent on how much data is fed to it to train it. Using an algorithm to calculate something does not automatically mean machine learning or AI is being used.
Artificial Intelligence – Demystifying AI
Human intelligence is exhibited by machines. AI, as a branch of computer science, deals with human mind simulation for machines, but interesting natural intelligence plays a key role in the same. In today’s time, AI is increasingly used as a broad term.
It describes machines that can mimic human functions such as learning and problem-solving. In earlier times, it was believed that human intelligence could be precisely described and that machines could simulate it with AI. Before the machine starts attempting simulation, it needs to learn from lots of data.

Artificial intelligence is now considered a new factor of production. It has the conceivable potential to introduce new sources of growth, reinvent existing businesses, and change the style of work. It also reinforces the role of people in driving growth in business.
We needed AI for real life, not just PhD or scholarly book material. In simple words, AI involves machines that behave and think like humans, i.e., algorithmic thinking in general. AI-powered computers have started simulating the human brain’s sensation, action, interaction, perception, and cognition abilities.
The real fact is that artificial intelligence is about people, not machines. Technology and non-technology companies are now investing in and bringing the real and materialistic values of artificial intelligence to the real world.
Machine Learning
Simply an approach to achieving artificial intelligence. Machine learning as a subset of AI It had been carrying neural networks as an important ingredient for some time. Only recently has it become the focus of AI and deep learning. Sadly, it is becoming more accessible to developers as a tool. What we need is simply MLaaS (Machine Learning as a Service) for everyone.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Machine learning is one of the most active areas and a way to achieve AI. Why ML is so good today: for this, there are a couple of reasons below, but they are not limited to
- The explosion of big data
- Hunger for new business and revenue streams in these shrinking business times
- Advancements in machine learning algorithms
- Development of extremely powerful machines with high capacity and faster computing ability
- Storage capacity
Today’s machines are learning and performing tasks that were only done by humans in the past, like making better judgments and decisions, playing games, etc. This is possible because machines can now analyze and read through patterns and remember learnings for future use. Today, the major problem is finding resources that are skilled enough to demonstrate and differentiate their learning from university and PhD books in real business rather than just arguing on social media with others.
Machine learning should be treated as a culture in an organization where business teams, managers, and executives should have some basic knowledge of this technology. In order to achieve this as a culture, there have to be continuous programs and road shows for them. There are many courses that are designed for students, employees with little or no experience, managers, professionals, and executives to give them a better understanding of how to harness this magnificent technology in their business.
MLaaS is needed for data scientists’ work, architects, and data engineers with domain expertise. It is important for everyone to have a better understanding of the possibilities of machine learning. What is all the fuss about machine learning anyway? Can machines be creative? Can machines empathize?
AI has already started delivering value. Using the contemporary view of computing exemplified by recent models and results from non-uniform complexity theory has proven the fact.
What can machines do, and how creative can they be? I guess that we will see this in another upcoming post “Machine Learning Evolution followed by Machine Learning Transformation”. Machine learning is (mostly) a mathematics-specific AI technique for classification, regression, and clustering.
What Machine Learning Offers !!
AILabPage defines machine learning as “a focal point where business, data, and experience meet emerging technology and decide to work together”. Machine learning is responsible for assessing the impact of data. In machine learning, algorithms are used to gain knowledge from data sets. It completely focuses on algorithms.

Machine learning is where the traditional statistical modelling of data meets the algorithmic and computational fields of data science. It focuses primarily on developing several computer programs that can transform if and when exposed to newer data sets.
Machine learning and data mining follow a relatively similar process. Algorithms are built through which input is received and an output value is predicted after statistical analysis. There are three general classes of machine learning:
- Supervised Machine Learning – Map inputs to output
- Unsupervised Machine Learning – Magnify hidden patterns and trends
- Reinforcement Learning – Reward for learning
Every machine learning algorithm has three components:
- Representation
- Evaluation
- Optimization.
Artificial Neural Networks – Demystifying AI
Mimic human brain cells, inspired by the biological neuronal structure. The effect is to raise or lower the electrical potential inside the body of the receiving cell. If this graded potential reaches a threshold, the neuron fires. It is this characteristic that the artificial neuron model attempts to reproduce.
In a biological neuron, the transmission of a signal from one neuron to another through synapses is a complex chemical process. In this specific transmitter, substances are released from the sending side of the junction. The biological neuron model is widely used in artificial neural networks, with some minor modifications.
The artificial neural network we train for the prediction of image and stock data has an arbitrary number of hidden layers. Also, each layer has an arbitrary number of hidden nodes, both of which the user decides during runtime.
Neural networks find great applications in data mining across sectors. For example, economics, forensics, etc., and pattern recognition “ANN—Artificial Neural Systems, or Neural Networks—are physically cellular systems that can acquire, store, and utilize experiential knowledge”—Zurada (1992).
Neural Network Architecture
There are also some specialized versions of neural networks available. Such as convolutional neural networks and recurrent neural networks. These address special problem domains. Like image processing and text and speech processing that are based on methodologies like deep neural nets.
A neural network can be of 1 hidden layer to 3 layers at most for all practical purposes. The example below shows three hidden layers.

- Input layer: The activity of the input units represents the raw information that can feed into the network.
- Hidden layer: to determine the activity of each hidden unit. The activities of the input units and the weights on the connections between the input and the hidden units There can be several hidden layers.
- Output layer: The behavior of the output units depends on the activity of the hidden units and the weights between the hidden and output units.
In practice, deep learning methods, specifically recurrent neural network (RNN) models, are used for complex predictive analytics. Like share price forecasting, it consists of several stages.
Deep Learning – Mandate for Humans, Not Just Machines
A technique for implementing extremely powerful and much better machine learning Deep learning’s capabilities and limits make it so powerful that it can stand on its own in a separate domain. Sometimes, deep learning appears as a supernatural power of machines.
The objective of the techniques is to achieve a goal or an artificial intelligence power that teaches computers to perform tasks and have the ability to understand anything. This process is as similar as it comes naturally to humans, i.e., learning by example.
“Deep Learning is an algorithm which has no theoretical limitations of what it can learn; the more data you give and the more computational time you provide, the better it is” – Sir Geoffrey Hinton
Key Driver of Deep Learning
Deep learning’s main driver is artificial neural networks, or neural networks. Deep learning is based on multiple levels of features or representation in each layer, with the layers forming a hierarchy of low-level to high-level features.

Deep learning is the first class of algorithms that is scalable. The performance just keeps getting better as we feed the algorithms more data. Speech, text, and image processing can make a robot perfect to start with, and actions based on triggers make it the best. It has to pass four basic tests. Turning test, i.e., needs to acquire a college degree, work as an employee for at least 20 years, and perform well to get promotions and attain ASI status. Traditional machine learning focuses on feature engineering, but deep learning focuses on end-to-end learning based on raw features.
The analogy to deep learning is that the rocket engine is the deep learning models and the fuel is the huge amounts of data we can feed to these algorithms. — Sir Andrew Ng
Important elements such as decision tree training, inductive logic programming, clustering, reinforcement-based learning, and Bayesian networks are key factors in this scenario. Deep learning networks offer a significant benefit in that they have the ability to enhance their effectiveness as they encounter greater quantities of data.
Deep learning Computational Models
The human brain is a deep and complex recurrent neural network. Deep learning allows computational models that are composed of multiple processing layers to learn representations of data with multiple levels of abstraction. In very simple words, and not to confuse anyone here, we can define both models as below.
- Feedforward propagation – Type of Neural Network architecture where the connections are “fed forward” only i.e. input to hidden to output The values are “fed forward”.
- Backpropagation (supervised learning algorithm) is a training algorithm with 2 steps:
- Feedforward the values
- Calculate the error and propagate it back to the layer before.
In short, forward-propagation is part of the backpropagation algorithm but comes before back-propagating.
Data Science
Data science succinctly communicates the value of analysis and its benefits in real life to stakeholders. Data science is the smartest or most intelligent BI, i.e., IBI, to do the laborious task of ‘solving intelligence’ with a range of tools and specialty areas. Fundamentally, solving intelligence means the artificial seeking and production of knowledge that answers questions, whether they were asked or not, known or unknown.
Successful data science requires more than just programming and coding. However, in data mining algorithms, that too is combined as part of a process and entirely focused on.
Artificial Learning vs. Machine Learning vs. Deep Learning
Artificial intelligence, or so-called artificial learning, and machine learning are often used interchangeably, especially in this era of big data. By now, we are sure you can clearly see that these terms aren’t the same, and it is important to understand how they can be applied.
As mentioned above, artificial intelligence is a much broader concept than machine learning, which addresses the use of computers to mimic the cognitive functions of humans. In machine learning, tasks are based on algorithms in an “intelligent” manner.
Machine learning is a subset of AI and focuses on the ability of machines to receive a set of data and learn for themselves, changing algorithms as they learn more about the information they are processing.
Mixing Up All – Demystifying AI
Why Deep Learning? If supremacy is the basis for popularity, then surely deep learning is almost there (at least for supervised learning tasks). Deep learning attains the highest rank in terms of accuracy when trained with a huge amount of data.
Data science does not necessarily involve big data, but the fact that data is scaling up makes big data an important aspect of data science. On the other hand, i.e., thinking with machines or intelligence augmentation, is serious evolutionary epistemology and semiotics. It has the extreme potential to take business intelligence and turn it into competitive intelligence that can infer competitive measures using augmented site-centric data.
One of the best strengths of deep learning is that it does not require predefined features to find peculiar patterns that humans will always struggle with or probably never be able to define beforehand. Robots or AI-enabled AI taking our jobs is still far off in the next 50 years or so.
We have excellent young professionals working in today’s world with the dream of changing the world. Their dreams go on to bring good values to society, business, and the people they work with.
During my time (around 19 years ago), we had no such option to learn or to choose popular professions. It was mainly R&D for anything unusual. We were forced to use regression techniques if anyone wished to be a data scientist or simply an engineer in computer software.
Robots can fail for a very simple and known reason: machine learning models are not sufficiently accurate or can’t be accurate without lots of data and lots of training. Artificial Intelligence with cloud computing adds advancements using new use cases to improve the systems developed so far.
Some facts!
As investment in artificial intelligence is growing fast. Tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Baidu, known for their dominance in digital technologies globally, are spending a couple of billion United States dollars on AI. 90% of this is going to R&D and deployment, and 10% to AI acquisitions.
The level at which AI systems are allowed to assume control of human driving must be limited. Baidu’s speech-to-text technology has displayed superior results compared to those achieved by humans in comparable tasks. Amazon has successfully utilized advanced deep-learning technology to improve the quality of its product recommendations.
Are we ready to relinquish control to autonomous cars, software bots, or AI-based recommendation engines?
Points to Note:
All credits, if any, remain with the original contributor only. We have covered artificial intelligence, machine learning, neural networks, and deep learning to give some high-level understanding and differences. In the next post, I will talk about reinforcement machine learning.
Feedback & Further Question
Do you have any questions about Deep Learning or Machine Learning? Leave a comment or ask your question via email. Will try my best to answer it.
Books + Other readings Referred
- Open Internet – Research Papers and ebooks
- Personal hand on work on data & experience of @AILabPage members
- Book “Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach”

Conclusion – Artificial intelligence has transformed considerably since its inception in academia and is presently an active and diverse field of research. Recently, businesses have integrated artificial intelligence into their offerings. At the moment, artificial intelligence is functioning with human guidance, and I firmly believe that this partnership should persist in the future.
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Different and insightful post
This is much clearer of all articles we have seen on internet until now
[…] Machine learning is subset to Artificial Intelligence which borrows principles from computer science. It is not an AI though; It is focal point where business and experience meet emerging technology and decides to work together. ML also has very close relationship to statistics; which is a graphical branch of mathematics. It instructs an algorithm to learn for itself by analyzing data. The more data it processes, the smarter the algorithm gets. Until only recently even though foundation was laid down in 1950 ML remained largely confined to academia. […]
[…] our words Machine learning is a subject for real life work outside of phd or scholar books. At AILabPage we define ML as […]
[…] if any remains on the original contributor only. We have now elaborated our previous posts “AI, ML and DL – Demystified” for understanding DeepLearning only also you can find previous posts on Machine Learning […]
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[…] if any remains on the original contributor only. We have now elaborated our earlier posts on “AI, ML and DL – Demystified” for understanding Deep Learning only. You can find earlier posts on Machine Learning – The […]
[…] Machine learning is also a subset of Artificial Intelligence. ML borrows principles from computer science and statistics which is a graphical branch of mathematics. […]
[…] Machine learning is also a subset of Artificial Intelligence. ML borrows principles from computer science and statistics which is a graphical branch of mathematics. […]
[…] Machine learning is also a subset of Artificial Intelligence. ML borrows principles from computer science and statistics which is a graphical branch of mathematics. […]
[…] Making decision or choosing between ML or DL depends mainly on the problem & data at hand. Some high level differences as below. Should you choose to read in details then I suggest you read “Demystifying the difference between Machine Learning and Deep Learning“. […]
This is short and concise post. I like the way you limited and kept to the point. Also links for other posts for details was great idea. Please note Deep Learning might look diffrent but may not able to achieve independence at least for next 50 years because of too much reliance on machine learning.
[…] if any remains on the original contributor only. We have now elaborated our earlier posts on “AI, ML and DL – Demystified” for understanding Deep Learning only. You can find earlier posts on Machine Learning – The […]
[…] any remains on the original contributor only. We have now elaborated on our earlier posts on “AI, ML, and DL – Demystified“, for understanding Deep Learning only. You can find earlier posts on Machine Learning – […]
[…] SHARMA, V. (2017). Vinod Sharma’s Blog. Retrieved from https://vinodsblog.com/2017/12/31/demystifying-ai-machine-learning-and-deep-learning/ […]
[…] have elaborated on our earlier posts on “AI, ML, and DL – Demystified“, for understanding Deep Learning only. You can find earlier posts on Machine Learning – […]
[…] Making a decision or choosing between ML or DL depends mainly on the problem & data at hand. Some high-level differences are as below. Should you choose to read in detdetailails then I suggest you read “Demystifying the Difference between Machine Learning and Deep Learning“. […]
[…] Machine learning is a subset to Artificial Intelligence that borrows principles from computer science. It is not an AI though; It is a focal point where business, data and experience meet emerging technology and decides to work together. Machine learning is a way to achieve Machine learning models can find patterns in data to help prevent system breakdowns, persuade customers to buy more (e-commerce), or capitalise on a myriad of other business events. […]
[…] have elaborated on our earlier posts on “AI, ML, and DL – Demystified“, for understanding Deep Learning only. You can find earlier posts on Machine Learning – […]
[…] Machine learning is also a subset of Artificial Intelligence. ML borrows principles from computer science and statistics which is a graphical branch of mathematics. […]