Deep learning: Models, enterprise applications, benefits, use cases, implementation and development

Enterprises face many challenges when they rely only on traditional methods. One significant challenge is the management of large volumes of diverse data, making it difficult to extract valuable insights for decision-making and growth. Another challenge arises from manual tasks and manual analysis, which consume time and resources, hampering decision-making speed and competitive advantage. Additionally, traditional algorithms lack the ability to capture intricate relationships, leading to inaccuracies in predictions, missed opportunities, and potential financial losses.

Fortunately, deep learning addresses these challenges effectively. Its algorithms analyze massive datasets, uncover intricate patterns, and reveal insights hidden in data. This empowers enterprises to make data-driven decisions with unparalleled precision and speed. Deep learning also enables automation and efficiency, freeing up resources for core competencies. Furthermore, deep-learning-based predictive models provide businesses with reliable forecasts, enabling proactive decision-making and providing a competitive edge in the market.

In this article, we will delve deeper into the workings of deep learning, exploring its practical applications across industries. We will highlight the transformative nature of deep learning within enterprises while discussing the challenges and benefits of implementing deep learning methods within enterprise systems, among other vital aspects.

• What is deep learning, and how does it work?
• Components of a deep learning network
• Understanding different deep learning algorithms
• Methods of using deep learning
• Deep learning vs. machine learning
• Deep learning business use cases across industry verticals
• Enterprise applications of deep learning
• How can deep learning benefit your enterprise?
• Key challenges and factors to consider when adopting deep learning
• How to create and train deep learning models?
• Future trends and developments in deep learning

What is deep learning, and how does it work?

Deep Learning (DL), a subfield of ML, specializes in training Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) to autonomously learn and make predictions or decisions, eliminating the need for explicit programming instructions. It is inspired by the structure and function of the human brain’s neural networks. Unlike traditional programming methods that require explicit instructions for every task, deep learning leverages the power of neural networks to learn and derive insights autonomously. That means, instead of being explicitly programmed, deep learning algorithms learn from large amounts of data and adjust their internal parameters to make accurate predictions or classifications.

Deep learning relies on interconnected layers of artificial neurons, also known as nodes or units. These nodes are organized into input, hidden, and output layers. Each node receives input signals, performs a mathematical computation on them, and then passes the transformed output to the next layer of nodes.

In the training phase, deep learning models iteratively fine-tune the weights and biases of each node to minimize the difference between the expected output and the model’s predicted output. This adjustment is done iteratively using optimization algorithms, such as stochastic gradient descent, which optimize the model’s ability to make accurate predictions.

Deep learning models excel at automatically learning hierarchical representations of data. Each layer in the network extracts increasingly complex and abstract features from the input data. The initial layers learn low-level features, such as edges or corners in an image, while the subsequent layers learn higher-level features, such as shapes or objects. This hierarchical representation enables deep learning models to capture intricate relationships and dependencies within the data.

The training of deep learning models requires large labeled datasets. However, once trained, these models can generalize unseen data and make predictions or perform highly accurate tasks. Deep learning has demonstrated exceptional caliber in diverse areas, such as speech recognition, NLP, computer vision, and recommendation systems.

The power of deep learning stems from its ability to automatically learn and extract relevant features from raw data, removing the need for manual feature engineering. This makes it particularly well-suited for handling unstructured data, such as images, audio, and text. Additionally, advancements in computational power, the availability of large datasets, and the development of specialized hardware, such as GPUs, have contributed to the rapid progress and widespread adoption of deep learning in recent years.

Components of a deep learning network

Deep learning networks are a type of artificial intelligence that mimics the human brain’s neural networks to learn and make decisions. They are incredibly powerful for tasks like image recognition, natural language processing, and more. Understanding the core components of a deep learning network is essential for grasping how these advanced systems function. These networks are structured into layers, each with a specific role in processing and transforming data to produce accurate and meaningful outputs.

Input layer

The input layer acts as the conduit for input data, translating raw information into a format the network can process. The layer comprises multiple nodes, each representing a feature of the input data. This layer is the entry point for data into the neural network.

It takes raw data and passes it to the next layer for processing.

Hidden layers

Hidden layers perform the heavy lifting of feature extraction and pattern recognition. Each layer builds upon the previous one, capturing increasingly complex data representations. These layers are termed “hidden” because they do not have direct interactions with the input or output; they are situated between the input and output layers.

The hidden layers process information at multiple levels of abstraction. Each layer extracts and transforms features from the previous layer, enabling the network to understand complex patterns and relationships in the data.

In image classification, different hidden layers focus on identifying edges, textures, shapes, and other visual features to help classify the image. For instance, when classifying an unknown animal, the network might analyze the shape of the eyes, ears, size, number of legs, and fur pattern across various hidden layers:

• Layer 1: Identifies basic shapes and edges.
• Layer 2: Recognizes more complex patterns like the shape of hooves or cat eyes.
• Layer 3: Combines these features to suggest the type of animal, such as distinguishing between a cow, deer, or wild cat.
• Deep networks: Deep learning networks typically have many hidden layers (sometimes hundreds), allowing them to analyze data from multiple perspectives and levels of detail.

Output layer

The final stage of the network is where processed information is converted into a human-understandable format, such as a classification label or a numerical value. The output layer comprises nodes that provide the final results of the neural network’s processing.

It delivers the output of the network, which can vary depending on the task:

• Binary classification: The output layer might have two nodes for tasks with a “yes” or “no” answer.
• Multiclass classification: The output layer will have more nodes for tasks with multiple possible outcomes, each representing a different class or category.

A deep learning network’s power comes from its ability to learn and refine features through its hidden layers, ultimately producing accurate and meaningful outputs based on the input data.

Understanding different deep learning algorithms

Deep learning models encompass a range of architectures and algorithms designed to tackle specific tasks and domains. Some of the commonly used deep learning models include:

Classic Neural Networks or Multilayer Perceptrons (MLPs)

Classic Neural Networks, also known as Multilayer Perceptrons (MLPs), form the foundation of deep learning and are widely used for various tasks. MLPs consist of multiple layers of interconnected nodes or neurons, with each node performing a weighted sum of inputs followed by an activation function. The layers include an input layer, one or more hidden layers, and an output layer. MLPs are primarily used for supervised learning, where they can be trained to map input data to desired outputs. Training involves adjusting the weights and biases of the neurons through backpropagation, which computes the error gradient with respect to the network parameters. The activation function introduces non-linearity, enabling MLPs to model complex relationships in the data.

Although MLPs lack the spatial and temporal modeling capabilities of specialized architectures like CNNs and RNNs, they are versatile and can be applied to various tasks, including classification, regression, and pattern recognition. MLPs have been successfully used in various domains, such as finance, healthcare, and natural language processing, and continue to serve as a fundamental building block in the field of deep learning.

Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs)

Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are a type of deep learning model specifically designed for processing and analyzing visual data, such as images and videos. CNNs have redefined computer vision tasks by effectively capturing and recognizing complex patterns and features within images. The most important part of CNNs is the convolutional layer, which applies filters or kernels to input data, allowing the network to learn spatial hierarchies of features automatically. The subsequent pooling layers reduce the spatial dimensions while preserving the most salient information.

CNNs also include fully connected layers that perform classification or regression tasks based on the extracted features. Due to their hierarchical and local connectivity, CNNs excel at tasks such as image classification, object detection, semantic segmentation, and image generation. Their ability to automatically learn and extract relevant visual features from raw data has propelled advancements in areas such as medical imaging, autonomous driving, and visual recognition systems.

Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs)

Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) are a class of neural networks that excel at processing sequential data, such as time series, text, and speech. Unlike feedforward networks, RNNs have recurrent connections, allowing information to persist and be propagated through time. RNNs can capture temporal dependencies and learn from past information to make predictions or generate sequences.

RNNs have a memory-like component that allows them to retain and update information at each time step. However, traditional RNNs suffer from the vanishing gradient problem, limiting their ability to capture long-term dependencies. Variations like Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) were introduced to address this. These models have specialized memory cells and gating mechanisms that enhance the network’s ability to remember and forget information selectively. RNNs have proven successful in various applications, including machine translation, speech recognition, sentiment analysis, and handwriting generation. Their ability to model sequential data and capture context has made them invaluable in understanding and generating complex patterns in time-based and sequential datasets.

Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs)

Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) are deep learning generative algorithms designed to create new data points that closely resemble the training data. A GAN has two main components: a generator, which learns to produce synthetic data, and a discriminator, which evaluates and incorporates this synthetic data into its learning process.

GANs have seen increasing use in various applications from scientific imaging to digital content creation, their impact is profound. They are utilized in dark-matter research to simulate gravitational lensing effects and improve astronomical images. Additionally, game developers use GANs to upscale classic video game textures from low-resolution 2D to high-resolution 4K or beyond.

GANs generate cartoon characters, create realistic images from photographs, and render 3D objects.

Radial Basis Function Networks (RBFNs)

Radial Basis Function Networks (RBFNs) are a specialized feedforward neural network that utilizes radial basis functions as activation functions. These networks are designed to handle various machine-learning tasks, including classification, regression, and time-series prediction.

RBFNs are employed for a variety of applications, including:

• Classification: RBFNs can categorize data into different classes by mapping the input data into a space where classes are more separable.
• Regression: These networks predict continuous values by fitting a function to the training data in the transformed space.
• Time-series prediction: RBFNs can forecast future values based on historical time-series data by capturing temporal patterns and trends.

RBFNs’ unique structure, focusing on radial basis functions, enables them to handle complex problems in various domains effectively.

Long Short-Term Memory Networks (LSTMs)

LSTMs are a specialized type of Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) designed to learn and remember long-term dependencies more effectively. They address the long-term dependency problem that traditional RNNs face, making them particularly well-suited for tasks such as speech recognition and time series forecasting.

How LSTMs work:

• Cell state: LSTMs feature a cell state that persists throughout the sequence, allowing them to retain and carry information across many steps. This continuous cell state helps the network remember information over long periods.
• Gates: LSTMs use three types of gates to manage the flow of information into, out of, and within the cell state:
  • Input gate: This gate decides which information from the current input should be added to the cell state and updates it with new relevant information.
  • Forget gate: This gate determines which information should be removed or forgotten from the cell state. It helps the network discard outdated or irrelevant information.
  • Output gate: This gate controls the information that is outputted from the cell state. It ensures that only the relevant information is used for making predictions or decisions.

Using these mechanisms, LSTMs can effectively capture and utilize long-term dependencies in sequential data, making them a powerful tool for tasks involving sequences and time series.

Autoencoders

Autoencoders are unsupervised learning models designed for tasks such as data compression, noise reduction, and feature extraction. They work by encoding data into a more compact representation and then decoding it back to its original form.

How autoencoders work:

• Encoder: This component transforms the input data into a lower-dimensional representation, known as the latent space. The encoder captures the data’s essential features while reducing its dimensionality.
• Latent space: The latent space is the compressed, lower-dimensional representation of the input data created by the encoder. It contains the most significant features needed to reconstruct the original data.
• Decoder: The decoder takes the latent space representation and reconstructs the original data from it. This process aims to approximate the original input as closely as possible.
• Training: During training, the autoencoder learns by minimizing the difference between the original input data and the reconstructed output. The goal is to improve the accuracy of the reconstruction, ensuring that the compressed representation captures the important aspects of the input data.

Autoencoders are valuable for tasks that involve reducing data complexity, removing noise, or learning useful features from raw data.

Methods of using deep learning

Deep learning models can be optimized and enhanced using several key techniques. These methods include learning rate decay, transfer learning, training from scratch, and dropout. Here’s an overview of each:

Learning rate decay

The learning rate is a hyperparameter that determines the extent to which the model’s weights are updated in response to the error during the training process. If the learning rate is too high, the model may learn suboptimal weights or experience unstable training. Conversely, a learning rate that’s too low can result in prolonged training times and potentially get stuck. Learning rate decay, also known as adaptive learning rates, involves gradually reducing the learning rate over time. This technique helps improve model performance and shortens training time by allowing the model to make larger updates early on and finer adjustments as training progresses.

Transfer learning

Transfer learning involves fine-tuning a pre-trained model for a new task. This approach is useful when working with limited data for a new task. By starting with a model already trained on a large dataset, users can leverage their existing knowledge and adapt it to new data with minimal additional training. This technique reduces the amount of data needed and significantly shortens the computation time compared to training a model from scratch.

Training from scratch

Training a deep learning model from scratch involves building and training a new model using a large, labeled dataset. This method requires substantial data and computational resources, as it involves learning features and patterns from the ground up. Although this method can be very effective for tasks with numerous output categories or novel applications, it is less frequently used. This is because it demands significant time and resources, often taking days or even weeks to complete.

Dropout

Dropout is a technique used to combat overfitting in neural networks, especially those with many parameters. During training, dropout randomly “drops out” or deactivates a subset of neurons and their connections. This prevents the model from becoming too reliant on specific neurons, thus improving its ability to generalize to new data. Dropout has been shown to enhance model performance in various supervised learning tasks, including speech recognition, document classification, and computational biology.

By applying these methods, deep learning models can be more robust, efficient, and better suited to handle various tasks and challenges.

Deep learning vs. machine learning

Deep learning and machine learning are related fields within the broader domain of artificial intelligence, but they differ in certain aspects. Here is a comparison between the two:

Deep learning business use cases across industry verticals

Construction

In the construction industry, deep learning is being used to transform project planning and execution. By employing reinforcement learning models similar to those used in advanced AI systems, construction planners are finding the most efficient routes to complete projects. These models simulate various construction steps, such as pipe installation or concrete laying, to identify the optimal sequence of tasks. They also assist in scheduling, resource allocation, and conducting structural audits to ensure efficiency and compliance throughout the construction process.

Historically, the construction industry has been less reliant on technology due to the unique nature of each project and the lack of applicable training data from past projects. However, by using reinforcement learning, where simulations create the training dataset, the industry is overcoming these challenges. This innovative approach is just the beginning of integrating deep learning into construction, aiming to align industry knowledge with technological advancements to propel the industry forward.

Finance

Deep learning technology in the financial services industry holds vast potential for various applications, including e-discovery. For example, large investment firms are utilizing deep learning-based text analytics to detect anomalies and ensure compliance with government regulations. Similarly, hedge funds employ these techniques to sift through extensive document repositories, gaining insights for future investment performance and market sentiment analysis. The core advantage of deep learning in these scenarios lies in its capability to process and analyze large volumes of text data, enabling effective analytics and data aggregation.

Healthcare

Deep learning is transforming healthcare through advanced medical imaging techniques. Algorithms analyze X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans to detect abnormalities like tumors or fractures with remarkable precision, aiding radiologists in diagnosing diseases earlier. Moreover, deep learning speeds up the drug discovery process by forecasting how different molecules interact, greatly lowering the time and expense associated with developing new drugs.

Retail

Deep learning transforms retail through personalized recommendations, where algorithms analyze customer behavior to suggest products that match individual preferences, enhancing the shopping experience. Additionally, demand forecasting powered by deep learning predicts future product needs based on historical sales data, enabling retailers to manage inventory more efficiently and reduce stockouts or overstock situations.

Automotive

Deep learning is crucial for developing autonomous driving technology in the automotive industry. It helps self-driving cars recognize and interpret road conditions, traffic signs, and obstacles, making driving safer and more efficient. Predictive maintenance also benefits from deep learning by analyzing vehicle sensor data to foresee maintenance needs, reduce unexpected breakdowns and extend vehicle longevity.

Manufacturing

Deep learning improves manufacturing processes through automated quality control. AI models inspect products for defects during production, ensuring high standards and reducing waste. Predictive maintenance is a crucial application in which deep learning models analyze machine data to foresee potential failures before they happen. This allows for more efficient maintenance schedules and minimizes downtime, ensuring smoother operations.

Enterprise applications of deep learning

The adoption of deep learning unlocks a wealth of possibilities for enterprises across various domains. Some of its key applications are:

1. Image and video recognition: Deep learning models like CNNs excel at image and video analysis tasks. They are used for object detection, image classification, facial recognition, and scene understanding. This technology has numerous applications, including autonomous vehicles, surveillance systems, manufacturing quality control, and social media content filtering.
2. Natural language processing and text analytics: Deep learning models also impact natural language processing and text analytics tasks. Their capabilities enable a wide range of applications like sentiment analysis, language translation, chatbots, text summarization, and question-answering systems. NLP-powered applications are widely used in customer support, content moderation, market research, and content generation.
3. Speech recognition and voice assistants: Deep learning has significantly advanced speech recognition technology, making voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant possible. These systems can accurately transcribe speech, perform voice commands, and generate human-like responses. In various industries, voice assistants find applications in smart home automation, customer service, voice-controlled devices, and hands-free operation.
4. Fraud detection and cybersecurity: Deep learning is crucial in detecting fraud and enhancing cybersecurity measures. Deep learning models can analyze large volumes of data in real time, identifying patterns, anomalies, and potential threats. They are used for credit card fraud detection, network intrusion detection, malware detection, and spam filtering, among other tasks. Deep learning models continuously learn from new data, enhancing their ability to detect emerging threats, improving threat detection.
5. Predictive analytics and recommendation system: Deep learning enables enterprises to build predictive models to forecast future trends, behaviors, and outcomes. Deep learning models can analyze vast amounts of data, identifying patterns and making accurate predictions. Recommendation systems, widely used in e-commerce, media streaming, and personalized marketing, utilize deep learning algorithms to suggest relevant products, movies, music, and content to users based on their preferences and behavior.
6. Medical diagnosis: Deep learning has made significant strides in medical imaging analysis, enabling more accurate and faster diagnoses. It aids in detecting diseases like cancer, identifying abnormalities in radiology scans, and interpreting medical images, ultimately improving patient care and outcomes.
7. Supply chain optimization: Deep learning can optimize supply chain operations by forecasting demand, optimizing inventory levels, and improving logistics. It can analyze historical data, market trends, and external factors to enhance decision-making and streamline operations.
8. Data analytics: Deep learning models process and analyze large datasets to identify patterns, correlations, and anomalies. These models can handle diverse data types, such as text, images, and time series data.
9. Self-driving cars: Deep learning models automatically detect and recognize road signs, pedestrians, and other critical elements in the driving environment. These models are trained on vast amounts of image data to identify and classify objects and understand their relevance for safe navigation.
10. Medical image analysis: Deep learning models are used to analyze medical images, such as X-rays or MRIs, to identify cancer cells and other abnormalities automatically. These models assist radiologists by providing accurate and timely diagnoses.
11. Factory safety: In industrial settings, deep learning applications monitor safety by detecting when people or objects come within unsafe proximity to machinery. These systems can trigger alarms or stop machines to prevent accidents and ensure worker safety.

How can deep learning benefit your enterprise?

Deep learning is becoming increasingly crucial for enterprises that drive innovation and growth. Here’s how it can benefit your organization:

1. Efficient processing of unstructured data: Deep learning excels at handling unstructured data, such as text documents, by understanding and generalizing from variations in the data without requiring manual feature extraction. For instance, deep learning models can interpret different phrasings of a query, like “Can you tell me how to make the payment?” and “How do I transfer money?” as having the same intent.
2. Hidden relationships and pattern discovery: Deep learning can uncover hidden relationships and insights within large datasets. For example, a deep learning model analyzing consumer purchase behavior might identify patterns and suggest new products based on similarities between a user’s buying habits and those of similar customers, even when the model was not explicitly trained to make such suggestions.
3. Unsupervised learning: Deep learning models can continuously learn and improve user behavior without needing extensive labeled datasets. For example, a neural network used for autocorrect can adapt to frequent typing of non-English words, like “Danke” (a German word meaning thanks), by learning and providing accurate corrections even if it was initially trained only on English text.
4. Volatile data processing: Deep learning models help manage and categorize volatile data with significant variations. For instance, a neural network can analyze and sort fluctuating loan repayment amounts, helping to identify patterns or anomalies, such as potential fraud, in financial transactions.
5. Enhanced natural language processing: Deep learning models can accurately understand and generate human language. This capability is useful for applications like chatbots, which can engage in meaningful conversations, understand context, and provide relevant responses based on natural language input.
6. Advanced image analysis: Deep learning algorithms can process and interpret complex image data. They can be used in medical imaging to detect anomalies such as tumors or fractures or in security systems to recognize faces and identify individuals, providing precise and actionable insights.
7. Improved predictive analytics: Deep learning models can make highly accurate predictions about future events or behaviors by analyzing historical data. For example, in finance, deep learning can predict market trends or assess credit risk by identifying subtle patterns in historical data.
8. Adaptive personalization: Deep learning enables highly personalized user experiences by continuously learning from user interactions. For instance, streaming services use deep learning to recommend movies and shows tailored to individual viewing habits, adapting recommendations based on changing preferences over time.

Key challenges and factors to consider when adopting deep learning

While deep learning possesses significant potential, certain challenges and considerations must be taken into account for its successful adoption. Here are a few examples:

Requirement for quality data: Deep learning models typically require large amounts of labeled data for effective training. Deep learning can function best when loads of quality data are available. As the available data grows, the performance of the deep learning system also grows. A deep learning system can fail miserably when quality data isn’t fed into the system. There may be domains like industrial applications where there is a lack of sufficient data. This limits the adoption of deep learning in such cases.

Bias problem of AI: The good or bad of an artificial intelligence system largely depends on the volume of data it is trained on. Therefore, the future of AI systems depends on the volume and quality of data available to train them. In reality, though, most of the data organizations collect lacks quality and significance. They are firstly biased and largely only define the specifications and nature of a small demographic with interests such as gender, religion and the like.

Computational resources: Deep learning models are computationally demanding and require significant computational resources, especially for training large-scale models. Organizations need to invest in powerful hardware, such as GPUs or TPUs, or consider utilizing cloud-based infrastructure to support deep learning workloads.

Model interpretability: Deep learning models, especially with complex architectures, can lack interpretability, making it challenging to understand why certain predictions are made. Interpretable deep learning methods are an active area of research, but striking a balance between model complexity and interpretability is still a challenge.

Overfitting and generalization: Deep learning models are prone to overfitting, where they memorize training data instead of learning generalizable patterns. Techniques like regularization, data augmentation, and early stopping can help mitigate overfitting. Ensuring models generalize well to unseen data is a crucial consideration.

Ethical and legal implications: Deep learning applications may raise ethical and legal concerns, such as privacy issues, algorithmic bias, and fairness. It is important to address these considerations and ensure models are fair, transparent, and comply with relevant regulations, especially in sensitive domains like healthcare or finance.

Continuous learning and model updates: Deep learning models may need to be updated periodically to adapt to changing data patterns or improve performance. Implementing mechanisms for continuous learning, model monitoring, and updates is crucial to ensure the longevity and effectiveness of deep learning models.

Explainability and trust: Deep learning models can be seen as “black boxes” due to their complexity, which can undermine trust in their predictions. Ensuring explainability and transparency and providing insights into model decision-making are important considerations, particularly in critical applications like healthcare or finance.

Integration with existing systems: Integrating deep learning models into existing systems or workflows can be a challenge. Compatibility with existing software infrastructure, data pipelines, or deployment environments must be carefully addressed to ensure seamless integration and scalability.

How to create and train deep learning models?

Here, we will develop a deep-learning model to predict employee attrition probability. We will use a dataset from Kaggle containing various indicators of employee satisfaction within a company. To construct the model, we will employ the Keras sequential layer, which allows us to create and configure the model’s different layers.

Prerequisites

You will need the following to proceed:

• An Anaconda development environment on your machine.
• A Jupyter Notebook installation. Anaconda will install Jupyter Notebook for you during its installation.
• Familiarity with machine learning.

Step1 – Gather and preprocess the data

In this step, you will load your dataset using pandas, a data manipulation Python library. Prior to initiating the data pre-processing phase, it is essential to activate your working environment and verify that all the required packages are properly installed on your machine. Using conda simplifies the installation of Keras and TensorFlow, ensuring compatibility and handling dependencies.

Move into the environment you created on your machine:

& conda activate my_env

To install keras and tensorflow, run the following command:

(my_env) $ conda install tensorflow keras

To begin, open Jupyter Notebook by entering the following command in your terminal:

(my_env) $ jupyter notebook

$ ssh -L 8888:localhost:8888 your_username@your_server_ip

Once you have accessed Jupyter Notebook, locate the anaconda3 file and click on it. Next, at the top of the screen, select “New” and choose “Python 3” to create a new notebook. To proceed, import the necessary modules for your project and load the dataset into a notebook cell. Import the pandas module for data manipulation and numpy for converting data into numpy arrays. Additionally, convert any columns in string format to numerical values to ensure compatibility with your computer’s processing capabilities.

Insert the below-mentioned code into your notebook cell and run it:

import pandas as pd
import numpy as np
df = pd.read_csv("https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mwitiderrick/kerasDO/master/HR_comma_sep.csv")

You have imported the necessary libraries, such as numpy and pandas, to support your data analysis tasks. Next, load the dataset into your notebook using pandas.

To gain insights into the dataset, you can utilize the head() function. This function allows you to view the first few records of your data frame. By adding the following code to a notebook cell and executing it, you will be able to observe a snapshot of your dataset.

df.head()

Next, you will convert the categorical columns to numerical values using dummy variables. This involves representing the categories as ones and zeros, indicating their presence or absence. To prevent the “dummy variable trap,” you will drop the first dummy variable.

Note: The dummy variable trap occurs when two or more variables are highly correlated, which can negatively impact model performance. To avoid this, you need to drop one dummy variable, ensuring you always have N-1 dummy variables. It doesn’t matter which specific dummy variable is dropped as long as you maintain N-1. For example, if you have an on/off switch represented by dummy variables, you can drop one column since the absence of the “on” state implies the “off” state.

Insert this below-mentioned code in the next notebook cell and execute it:

feats = ['department','salary']
df_final = pd.get_dummies(df,columns=feats,drop_first=True)

feats = [‘department’,’salary’] define the two columns for which you intend to create dummy variables. pd.get_dummies(df,columns=feats,drop_first=True) will generate the necessary numerical variables needed for your employee retention model. The code converts the defined categorical feats into numerical variables. The dataset has been loaded, and the salary and department columns have been converted into a format suitable for the keras deep learning model. Moving forward, the dataset will be split into a training and testing set.

Step 2 – Separating the training and testing datasets

To split your dataset into a training and testing set, you will utilize the train_test_split module from the scikit-learn package. This step is crucial to train the model using a portion of the employee data and evaluate its performance using the remaining data. Splitting the dataset in this manner is a common practice when constructing deep learning models. It is essential to implement this split to ensure that the model does not have access to the testing data during the training process.

Import the train_test_split module from scikit-learn by inserting the provided code into the next notebook cell and executing it.

from sklearn.model_selection import train_test_split

After importing the train_test_split module, the left column in your dataset is utilized as the target variable for predicting whether an employee will leave the company. Hence, it is crucial to ensure that your deep learning model does not have access to this column. To achieve this, execute the following code in a notebook cell to drop the left column:

X = df_final.drop(['left'],axis=1).values
y = df_final['left'].values

To meet the requirements of your deep learning model, the dataset needs to be in the form of arrays. To achieve this, numpy is utilized to convert the data into numpy arrays using the .values attribute.

Now, you can proceed to split the dataset into training and testing sets. The data will be split into training and testing sets with a ratio of 70% for training and 30% for testing. The larger portion is allocated for training to ensure an adequate amount of data is available for the training process.

To split the data into the specified ratios, use this code to the next notebook cell and execute it.

X_train, X_test, y_train, y_test = train_test_split(X, y, test_size=0.3)

The data has been successfully converted to the format accepted by Keras, namely numpy arrays, and has been split into separate training and testing sets. Before proceeding, data transformation is performed, which will be covered in the next step.

Step 3 – Data transformation

As a common practice in building deep learning models, scaling the dataset is often recommended to enhance computational efficiency. In this step, the data will be scaled using the StandardScaler, which will ensure that the dataset values have a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1. This transformation aims to achieve a normally distributed dataset. To accomplish this, the scikit-learn StandardScaler will be utilized.

To scale both the training set and the test set, add the provided code to a notebook cell and run it:

from sklearn.preprocessing import StandardScaler
sc = StandardScaler()
X_train = sc.fit_transform(X_train)
X_test = sc.transform(X_test)

To begin, the StandardScaler is imported, and an instance of it is called. The fit_transform method is employed to scale both the training and testing sets.

All dataset features have now been scaled to ensure they are within the same range. The next step involves building the artificial neural network.

Step 4 – Building the artificial neural network

To construct the deep learning model, keras is utilized. This involves importing keras, which, by default, employs tensorflow as the backend. From keras, the Sequential module is imported to initialize the artificial neural network. Additionally, the Dense module is imported to add layers to the deep learning model.

When constructing a deep learning model, it is essential to define three types of layers:

• The input layer serves as the entry point for passing the dataset features. It performs no computations but transfers the features to the hidden layers.
• The hidden layers are typically situated between the input and output layers, and there can be multiple hidden layers. These layers carry out computations and relay the information to the output layer.
• The output layer represents the final layer of the neural network, which produces the desired results once the model is trained. It is responsible for generating the output variables.

Run the following code in your notebook cell to import the necessary Keras, Sequential, and Dense modules:

import keras
from keras.models import Sequential
from keras.layers import Dense

To initialize a linear stack of layers, the Sequential module is employed. In this case, a classifier variable is created since the task at hand involves classification. Classification refers to a problem where labeled data is available, and predictions are made based on this labeled data.

To create the classifier variable, insert the provided code snippet into your notebook.

classifier = Sequential()

By employing Sequential, you have successfully initialized the classifier for your network. At this point, you can proceed to add layers to your network.

Run the provided code snippet in the next cell:

classifier.add(Dense(9, kernel_initializer = "uniform",activation = "relu", input_dim=18))

The layers are added using the .add() function on the classifier, with specific parameters:

• The first parameter determines the number of nodes in the network, which defines the connections within the neural network.
• The second parameter is the kernel_initializer, which initializes the weights when fitting the deep learning model. The weights are initialized to values close to zero but not exactly zero.
• The third parameter represents the activation function, which influences the model’s ability to learn complex patterns and make accurate predictions. Activation functions can be linear or non-linear, and for the given problem, the relu activation function is chosen as it tends to generalize well on the dataset.
• The last parameter, input_dim, specifies the number of features in the dataset.

Moving forward, the output layer, which provides predictions, will be added:

classifier.add(Dense(1, kernel_initializer = "uniform",activation = "sigmoid"))

The output layer is configured with the following parameters:

• The number of output nodes is set to one, as you are expecting a single output indicating whether an employee will leave the company.
• The sigmoid activation function is chosen as the kernel_initializer, allowing you to obtain the probability of an employee leaving. If there were more than two categories, the softmax activation function, a variant of sigmoid, would be used.

Moving forward, gradient descent is applied to the neural network. This optimization strategy aims to minimize errors during the training process. By adjusting the initially assigned weights, the cost function (a measure of the neural network’s performance) is reduced. The objective of gradient descent is to reach the point of minimum error. This is achieved by finding the local minimum of the cost function, which involves differentiating to determine the slope at a specific point. By descending into the minimum, you can adjust the weights accordingly. Among various optimization strategies, the popular adam optimizer is utilized in this tutorial.

Insert the provided code snippet into your notebook cell and run it:

classifier.compile(optimizer= "adam",loss = "binary_crossentropy",metrics = ["accuracy"])

To apply gradient descent, you utilize the compile function with the following parameters:

• The optimizer specifies the gradient descent algorithm.
• The loss function is chosen as binary_crossentropy, suitable for binary classification problems.
• The metric parameter determines the evaluation metric for the model, in this case, accuracy.

With the classifier configured, you can proceed to fit it to your dataset. This is accomplished using the .fit() method provided by Keras. Insert the provided code snippet into a notebook cell and execute it to fit the model to your dataset.

classifier.fit(X_train, y_train, batch_size = 10, epochs = 1)

The .fit() method is used with the following parameters:

• The first parameter is the training set containing the features.
• The second parameter is the target column for making predictions.

Additionally, the batch_size determines the number of samples processed per training round, while the epochs represent the number of times the dataset is passed through the neural network during training.

Having created, compiled, and fitted the deep learning model to the dataset, you can now proceed to make predictions using the unseen portion of the data. In the next step, predictions will be generated using the trained deep learning model.

Step 5 – Generating predictions on the test set

To initiate the prediction process, the testing dataset is utilized with the existing model. Keras provides the .predict() function for generating predictions.

Insert the provided code in the subsequent notebook cell to start the prediction procedure:

y_pred = classifier.predict(X_test)

Having already trained the classifier with the training set, this code employs the acquired knowledge to generate predictions for the test set. It calculates the probabilities of an employee leaving and considers a threshold of 50% and above as indicative of a high likelihood of the employee leaving the company.

Insert the following line of code in your notebook cell to set the threshold:

y_pred = (y_pred > 0.5)

Having generated predictions using the predict method and established the threshold for identifying potential employee attrition, the next step is to assess the model’s performance using a confusion matrix.

Step 6 – Evaluating the confusion matrix

To evaluate the accuracy of the predictions, a confusion matrix is employed to analyze the number of correct and incorrect predictions. The confusion matrix, also referred to as an error matrix, presents the counts of true positives (tp), false positives (fp), true negatives (tn), and false negatives (fn) for a classifier.

• True positives represent correct predictions of the positive class (sensitivity or recall).
• True negatives indicate accurate predictions of the negative class.
• False positives signify incorrect predictions of the positive class.
• False negatives correspond to inaccurate predictions of the negative class.

To utilize the confusion matrix functionality provided by scikit-learn, include the following code in your subsequent notebook cell:

from sklearn.metrics import confusion_matrix
cm = confusion_matrix(y_test, y_pred)
cm

The output of the confusion matrix indicates that your deep learning model achieved 3305 + 375 correct predictions and 106 + 714 incorrect predictions. By calculating (3305 + 375) / 4500, you can determine the accuracy of the model. With a total of 4500 observations in the dataset, the accuracy is found to be 81.7%. This accuracy rate of 81.7% is considered quite good, as it demonstrates that your model is capable of achieving at least 81% accurate predictions.

Output
array([[3305,  106],
       [ 714,  375]])

After evaluating your model with the confusion matrix, the next step is to make a single prediction using the developed model.

Step 7 – Generating a single prediction

To make a single prediction with your model, you will provide the details of one employee and predict the probability of them leaving the company. By passing the employee’s features to the predict method, which you previously scaled and converted to a numpy array, you can obtain the prediction.

Use the following code in a cell to pass the employee’s features and make the prediction:

new_pred = classifier.predict(sc.transform(np.array([[0.26,0.7 ,3., 238., 6., 0.,0.,0.,0., 0.,0.,0.,0.,0.,1.,0., 0.,1.]])))

The provided features correspond to a single employee and include attributes such as satisfaction level, last evaluation, number of projects, and more.

To establish a threshold of 50%, use the following code:

new_pred = (new_pred > 0.5)
new_pred

This threshold signifies that an employee is predicted to leave the company if the probability is above 50%.

Based on the output, it is evident that the employee won’t leave the company:

Output
array([[False]])

You have the option to adjust the threshold for your model, either higher or lower. For instance, you can choose to set the threshold at 60%:

new_pred = (new_pred > 0.6)
new_pred

The prediction still indicates that the employee will not leave the company:

Output
array([[False]])

In this step, we have seen how to make individual predictions based on the features of a single employee. In the next step, we will focus on enhancing the accuracy of your model.

Step 8 – Enhancing the model accuracy

To mitigate the issue of high variance in model training results, you can employ K-fold cross-validation. Typically, K is set to 10. In this technique, the model is trained on 9 folds and evaluated on the remaining fold. This process is repeated for each fold until all folds have been used. Each iteration provides its own accuracy, and the average of these accuracies becomes the overall model accuracy.

By utilizing the KerasClassifier wrapper, you can implement K-fold cross-validation with keras. This wrapper integrates with scikit-learn’s cross-validation functionality. To begin, import the cross_val_score function for cross-validation and the KerasClassifier.

Insert and execute the following code in your notebook cell

from keras.wrappers.scikit_learn import KerasClassifier
from sklearn.model_selection import cross_val_score

To generate the function that you will pass to the KerasClassifier, add this code to the next cell:

def make_classifier():
    classifier = Sequential()
    classifier.add(Dense(9, kernel_initializer = "uniform", activation = "relu", input_dim=18))
    classifier.add(Dense(1, kernel_initializer = "uniform", activation = "sigmoid"))
    classifier.compile(optimizer= "adam",loss = "binary_crossentropy",metrics = ["accuracy"])
    return classifier

In this step, a function is created that will be passed to the KerasClassifier as one of its arguments. This function serves as a wrapper for the neural network design that was used earlier. The function takes parameters that are similar to those used in the previous steps. Within the function, the classifier is initialized using Sequential(). Dense is then used to add the input and output layers. Finally, the classifier is compiled and returned.

To pass the function that is built to the KerasClassifier, add this line of code to your notebook:

classifier = KerasClassifier(build_fn = make_classifier, batch_size=10, nb_epoch=1)

The KerasClassifier is utilized with three arguments:

• build_fn: the function containing the neural network design
• batch_size: the number of samples processed in each iteration
• nb_epoch: the total number of epochs for training

Then, cross-validation is applied using Scikit-learn’s cross_val_score function. Add the following code to your notebook cell and run it:

accuracies = cross_val_score(estimator = classifier,X = X_train,y = y_train,cv = 10,n_jobs = -1)

Using the specified number of folds as 10, this function will generate ten accuracies. These accuracies are assigned to the variable “accuracies” and will be used later to calculate the mean accuracy. The function takes the following arguments:

• estimator: the classifier that you defined earlier
• X: the features of the training set
• y: the target values in the training set
• cv: the number of folds
• n_jobs: the number of CPUs to utilize (-1 indicates using all available CPUs)

Now that you have performed cross-validation, you can compute the mean and variance of the accuracies. To accomplish this, insert the following code into a notebook cell:

mean = accuracies.mean()
mean

In the output, you will observe that the mean accuracy is 83%.

Output
0.8343617910685696

To calculate the variance of the accuracies, insert the following code into the next cell of your notebook:

variance = accuracies.var()
variance

The obtained variance of 0.00109 indicates that your model is performing exceptionally well, as the variance is extremely low.

Output0.0010935021002275425

By implementing K-Fold cross-validation, you have successfully improved the accuracy of your model. In the next step, you will address the issue of overfitting.

Step 9 – Applying dropout regularization to address over-fitting issues

To address the issue of overfitting, you can apply dropout regularization in your model. Dropout regularization helps prevent the model from memorizing the training set by randomly deactivating a certain percentage of neurons during each iteration. In this case, a rate of 0.1 is specified, indicating that 1% of the neurons will be deactivated during training. The overall network design remains unchanged.

To incorporate the Dropout layer into your model, add the following code in the next cell:

from keras.layers import Dropout

classifier = Sequential()
classifier.add(Dense(9, kernel_initializer = "uniform", activation = "relu", input_dim=18))
classifier.add(Dropout(rate = 0.1))
classifier.add(Dense(1, kernel_initializer = "uniform", activation = "sigmoid"))
classifier.compile(optimizer= "adam",loss = "binary_crossentropy",metrics = ["accuracy"])

By adding a Dropout layer with a rate of 0.1, overfitting can be mitigated by deactivating 15% of the neurons during training. After including the Dropout and output layers, the classifier is compiled as before.

In this step, the goal of combating overfitting is achieved through the introduction of a Dropout layer. Subsequently, the focus will shift to further enhancing the model by fine-tuning the parameters used during its creation.

Step 10 – Hyperparameter tuning

Using grid search, different model parameters can be experimented with to identify the optimal ones that yield the highest accuracy. This technique involves trying out various parameters and selecting the ones that produce the best results. In order to improve the model’s accuracy, the make_classifier function will be modified to accommodate the testing of different optimizer functions. The GridSearchCV function from scikit-learn facilitates this functionality.

To modify the make_classifier function and explore various optimizer functions, add the following code to your notebook:

from sklearn.model_selection import GridSearchCV
def make_classifier(optimizer):
    classifier = Sequential()
    classifier.add(Dense(9, kernel_initializer = "uniform", activation = "relu", input_dim=18))
    classifier.add(Dense(1, kernel_initializer = "uniform", activation = "sigmoid"))
    classifier.compile(optimizer= optimizer,loss = "binary_crossentropy",metrics = ["accuracy"])
    return classifier

By importing GridSearchCV, the necessary tool has been acquired. Modifications have been made to the make_classifier function to facilitate the testing of various optimizers. Initialization of the classifier, addition of the input and output layers, and compilation of the classifier have been carried out. The classifier has been returned for further utilization.

Similar to step 4, include the following line of code to define the classifier:

classifier = KerasClassifier(build_fn = make_classifier)

The classifier has been defined using the KerasClassifier, which requires a function to be passed via the build_fn parameter. The KerasClassifier has been called and the previously created make_classifier function has been passed as an argument.

Next, you will set a few parameters that you intend to experiment with. Insert the following code into a cell and execute it:

params = {
    'batch_size':[20,35],
    'epochs':[2,3],
    'optimizer':['adam','rmsprop']
}

Different batch sizes, numbers of epochs, and various types of optimizer functions have been added.

For a small dataset like this, a batch size between 20-35 is recommended. Larger batch sizes should be experimented with for larger datasets. Using a low number of epochs ensures faster results, but larger numbers can be tested if time is not a constraint. The adam and rmsprop optimizers from Keras are suitable choices for this neural network.

Now, the defined parameters will be used to search for the best combination using the GridSearchCV function. Execute the following code in the next cell:

grid_search = GridSearchCV(estimator=classifier,
                           param_grid=params,
                           scoring="accuracy",
                           cv=2)

The grid search function expected the following parameters:

• Estimator: the classifier used.
• Param_grid: the set of parameters to be tested.
• Scoring: the metric used.
• CV: the number of folds used for testing.

Next, the grid_search was fitted to the training dataset.

grid_search = grid_search.fit(X_train,y_train)

The output will resemble the following:

OutputEpoch 1/2
5249/5249 [==============================] - 1s 228us/step - loss: 0.5958 - acc: 0.7645
Epoch 2/2
5249/5249 [==============================] - 0s 82us/step - loss: 0.3962 - acc: 0.8510
Epoch 1/2
5250/5250 [==============================] - 1s 222us/step - loss: 0.5935 - acc: 0.7596
Epoch 2/2
5250/5250 [==============================] - 0s 85us/step - loss: 0.4080 - acc: 0.8029
Epoch 1/2
5249/5249 [==============================] - 1s 214us/step - loss: 0.5929 - acc: 0.7676
Epoch 2/2
5249/5249 [==============================] - 0s 82us/step - loss: 0.4261 - acc: 0.7864

Add the code below to a notebook cell to retrieve the best parameters from this search using the best_params_ attribute:

best_param = grid_search.best_params_
best_accuracy = grid_search.best_score_

To check the best parameters for your model, use the following code:

best_param

The output reveals that the best batch size is 20, the best number of epochs is 2, and the optimal optimizer for your model is adam.

Output = {'batch_size': 20, 'epochs': 2, 'optimizer': 'adam'}

You can evaluate the best accuracy of your model using the best_accuracy variable, which represents the highest accuracy achieved with the best parameters after performing the grid search.

best_accuracy

The output generated will be similar to the following:

Output0.8533193637489285

GridSearch was utilized to determine the optimal parameters for the classifier. It was discovered that the best batch size is 20, the best optimizer is adam, and the best number of epochs is 2. The highest accuracy achieved for the classifier was 85%. A model for predicting employee retention has been constructed, achieving an accuracy of up to 85%.

Future trends and developments in deep learning

Deep learning is a rapidly evolving field, and several trends and developments are shaping its future. Here are some key areas of focus and potential advancements in deep learning:

Explainability and interpretability: As deep learning models become more complex, there is a growing need to understand and interpret their decisions. Research is focused on developing techniques and methods to explain the predictions made by deep learning models, enabling users to trust and understand the underlying reasoning.

Transfer learning and few-shot learning: Transfer learning allows pre-trained models to be fine-tuned for new tasks with limited data, improving efficiency and performance. Few-shot learning aims to develop models to learn new concepts or tasks with minimal training examples, mimicking human-like learning abilities.

Reinforcement learning: Reinforcement learning, which combines deep learning with principles from decision-making and control theory, has shown promise in areas such as robotics and game-playing. Future advancements in reinforcement learning may lead to more sophisticated and efficient learning algorithms and applications.

Integration with other fields: Deep learning will continue to intersect with other areas such as robotics, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality(VR), and Internet of Things (IoT). Integration with these fields will enable more advanced applications and enhance the capabilities of deep learning models.

Generative models: Generative models, such as GANs and Variational Autoencoders (VAEs), have gained attention for generating realistic and creative outputs, such as images, music, and text. Further research is expected to improve generative models’ stability, diversity, and control.

Multi-modal learning: AI has improved in integrating multiple modalities, such as text, vision, speech, and other technologies, within a single machine learning model. Developers are now working on integrating these modalities into machine learning and deep learning to improve task networking and efficiency.

Using deep learning in neuroscience: The human brain comprises neurons. Computer-based artificial neural networks, resembling the neural networks in the human brain, have emerged as a significant development. This advancement has led to numerous breakthroughs in neuroscience, resulting in the discovery of numerous neurological treatments and concepts.

Increased use of Edge Intelligence(EL): Edge intelligence is reshaping the landscape of data acquisition and analysis by decentralizing processes from cloud-based data storage to the edge. By reducing dependence on centralized cloud servers, edge intelligence enhances the autonomy and efficiency of data storage devices, enabling more localized and responsive data processing.

Final words

Deep learning has emerged as a transformative technology for enterprises, offering unprecedented opportunities for growth and innovation. The applications of deep learning in businesses are vast and diverse. From improving decision-making to enhancing customer experiences, deep learning models have proven their value in driving positive outcomes for enterprises. With deep learning, enterprises can leverage their data to gain valuable insights, enhance customer satisfaction, and achieve a competitive edge in their respective industries. While adopting deep learning comes with challenges and considerations, successful use cases across various sectors demonstrate its potential. By following a systematic approach to creating and training deep learning models, enterprises can overcome these challenges and unlock the transformative power of this technology. Deep learning continues to evolve rapidly, with advancements in NLP, computer vision, and reinforcement learning. These advancements promise exciting possibilities for enterprise applications and offer new ways for businesses to innovate and differentiate themselves in the market. By embracing deep learning, enterprises can drive growth, improve operational efficiency, and deliver exceptional customer experiences.

Looking to leverage deep learning-based solutions for your business? Contact LeewayHertz’s AI experts for expert guidance and robust AI development.