AI glossary / How it works

GAN

How it works

Generative adversarial network. An older way of making fake images, where one network creates and another tries to catch it out, so both improve.

Think of it as: A forger and a detective training each other.

More words in How it works

• GPTGenerative pre-trained transformer. The type of model behind ChatGPT: it generates text, was trained in advance on lots of writing, and uses the transformer design.
• Gradient descentThe method a model uses to improve during training: take a small step in whichever direction reduces its errors, and repeat millions of times.
• Ground truthThe known correct answer that an AI's output is checked against.
• HandoffWhen one AI agent passes a task, and everything it knows about it, to another agent better suited to continue.
• InferenceThe moment an AI model is actually used: you ask, it works out an answer. Training is learning, inference is doing.