AI Core Concepts (Part 2): Deep Learning for Software Engineers

Deep Learning Overview

Deep learning is a subfield of machine learning based on neural networks with many layers (a.k.a. deep neural networks). It excels in tasks involving unstructured data such as images, text, and audio.

1. Uses GPUs for Training Efficiency

Training deep learning models involves millions of matrix operations. GPUs accelerate this by performing parallel computations on thousands of cores.

🔹 Why GPUs?

Matrix multiplications (key to neural nets) are massively parallelizable.
Libraries like CUDA, cuDNN, TensorFlow, and PyTorch take advantage of GPU hardware.

Example: Enabling GPU in PyTorch

import torch

device = torch.device("cuda" if torch.cuda.is_available() else "cpu")
print("Using device:", device)

# Example model
model = MyModel().to(device)

2. Excels in Image, Audio, and NLP Tasks

Deep learning shines when working with high-dimensional, complex data like:

Images (e.g., CNNs for object detection)
Audio (e.g., RNNs for voice recognition)
Text (e.g., Transformers for language models)

🔹 Example: Image Classification with CNN

import torch.nn as nn

class SimpleCNN(nn.Module):
    def __init__(self):
        super().__init__()
        self.conv = nn.Conv2d(1, 16, kernel_size=3)
        self.pool = nn.MaxPool2d(2)
        self.fc = nn.Linear(16 * 13 * 13, 10)

    def forward(self, x):
        x = self.pool(torch.relu(self.conv(x)))
        x = x.view(-1, 16 * 13 * 13)
        x = self.fc(x)
        return x

🔹 Example: NLP with Transformers (HuggingFace)

from transformers import pipeline

classifier = pipeline("sentiment-analysis")
print(classifier("I love using deep learning for NLP!"))

3. Learns Hierarchically from Raw Data

Unlike traditional ML, deep learning reduces need for manual feature engineering. Instead, it learns hierarchical features from raw input.

🔹 Hierarchical Learning Explained

Early layers learn basic features (e.g., edges in images).
Middle layers detect patterns (e.g., textures or shapes).
Later layers combine into abstract concepts (e.g., faces, objects).

🔹 Example: Layers in CNN

model = nn.Sequential(
    nn.Conv2d(3, 32, kernel_size=3),    # Learn edges
    nn.ReLU(),
    nn.Conv2d(32, 64, kernel_size=3),   # Learn textures
    nn.ReLU(),
    nn.Flatten(),
    nn.Linear(64 * 6 * 6, 10)           # Combine into high-level features
)

📚 Further Resources

<< back to Guides