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the world would be better in a small but noticeable way if we'd never called them "neural networks" and instead used a term like "weighted feedback vectors" or something
@aparrish well I recently ran across a newly published book on Artificial Brains, so some AI people ARE creating brains. Even if they weren't I still think this is an appropriate metaphor, because they are a reasonably simplified model of how the brain is connected. In software the implementations are often as you describe so there is a bit of a conceptual disconnect between metaphorical understanding and its realization in code. Perhaps both descriptions would be appropriate!
@aparrish what about "bias engines"?
the "neural" metaphor is a tremendous red herring in explaining and understanding how NNs work, and it feeds the popular misconception that AI/ML researchers are somehow CREATING BRAINS