Home / ai basics / What is Deep Learning

What is Deep Learning

A type of machine learning that uses many layers.

Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence Neural Networks AI Models Computer Science

By AI Glossary Team

Published: May 14, 2026

What is Deep Learning?

Deep learning is a way to teach computers to do things on their own. It’s a type of machine learning that uses many layers to help the computer make decisions. This process is similar to how our brains work, with many layers of neurons helping us think and learn.

Think of It Like This

Imagine you’re trying to recognize a picture of a cat. You don’t just look at the whole picture - you look at the ears, the whiskers, the eyes, and the fur. A deep learning computer works in a similar way, looking at many different parts of the picture to figure out what it is. It’s like a big team effort, with each layer of the computer looking at a different part of the picture.

Why Should You Care?

Deep learning matters because it helps make many things in our daily lives work better. For example, virtual assistants like Siri or Alexa use deep learning to understand what we’re saying. It also helps self-driving cars navigate roads and recognizes faces in photos. This technology is used in many areas, from healthcare to finance, to make things more efficient and accurate.

Where You’ve Already Seen It

You’ve probably seen deep learning in action when you use Google to search for something. The search results are often very accurate, and that’s because Google uses deep learning to understand what you’re looking for. You’ve also seen it in Netflix recommendations - the computer uses deep learning to figure out what movies or shows you might like based on what you’ve watched before.

The One Thing to Remember

Deep learning is a powerful tool that helps computers make decisions by using many layers to look at lots of information.

what-is-machine-learning, what-is-artificial-intelligence, what-is-neural-networks

None

Related Terms