Chapter 1
Bayesian Inference in the Age of Deep Learning
Over the last fifteen years, machine learning (ML) has gone from a relatively little-known field to a buzzword in the tech community. This is due in no small part to the impressive feats of neural networks (NNs). Once a niche underdog in the field, deep learning’s accomplishments in almost every conceivable application have resulted in a near-meteoric rise in its popularity. Its success has been so pervasive that, rather than being impressed by features afforded by deep learning, we’ve come to expect them. From applying filters in social networking apps, through to relying on Google Translate when on vacation abroad, it’s undeniable that deep learning is now well and truly embedded in the technology landscape.
But, despite all of its impressive accomplishments, and the variety of products and features it’s afforded us, deep learning has not yet surmounted its final hurdle. As sophisticated neural...