Table of contents
1.
Introduction
2.
Machine Learning
2.1.
Types of Machine Learning
3.
Deep Learning
3.1.
Key Features of Deep Learning
3.2.
Example of Deep Learning in Python
4.
Artificial Intelligence
4.1.
Types of AI:
5.
Differences Between AI, ML, and DL
6.
AI vs. ML vs. DL Examples
7.
AI vs. ML vs. DL Works: Is There a Difference?
7.1.
How AI Works
7.2.
How ML Works
7.3.
How DL Works
8.
What Does an AI Engineer Do?
9.
What Does a Machine Learning Engineer Do?
10.
What Does a Deep Learning Engineer Do?
11.
Frequently Asked Questions
11.1.
What is the main difference between AI, ML, and DL?
11.2.
Is deep learning better than machine learning?
11.3.
Can I become an AI engineer without knowing deep learning?
12.
Conclusion
Last Updated: Mar 4, 2025
Medium

Difference Between Deep Learning vs Machine Learning vs Artificial Intelligence

Author Gaurav Gandhi
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Introduction

Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Deep Learning (DL) are interconnected fields in computer science. AI is the broadest concept, enabling machines to mimic human intelligence. Machine Learning is a subset of AI that focuses on training algorithms to learn patterns from data and make decisions. Deep Learning, a subset of ML, uses neural networks to process complex data with high accuracy.  

Difference Between Deep Learning vs Machine Learning vs Artificial Intelligence

This article explains AI, ML, and DL, their differences, examples, and career opportunities in each field.

Machine Learning

Machine Learning (ML) is a subset of AI that enables systems to learn from data and improve their performance without being explicitly programmed. ML algorithms analyze patterns in data and make predictions or decisions.

Types of Machine Learning

1. Supervised Learning: The model is trained on labeled data.

Example: Email spam detection.

Example of Machine Learning in Python:

from sklearn.model_selection import train_test_split
from sklearn.linear_model import LogisticRegression
from sklearn.datasets import load_iris

# Load dataset
data = load_iris()
X_train, X_test, y_train, y_test = train_test_split(data.data, data.target, test_size=0.2, random_state=42)

# Train model
model = LogisticRegression(max_iter=200)
model.fit(X_train, y_train)

# Predict
predictions = model.predict(X_test)
print(predictions)


2. Unsupervised Learning: The model identifies patterns in unlabeled data.
Example: Customer segmentation.

3. Reinforcement Learning: The model learns by interacting with the environment and receiving rewards or penalties.
Example: Game playing AI (like AlphaGo).

Deep Learning

Deep Learning (DL) is a subset of ML that uses artificial neural networks to process large amounts of data. It mimics the human brain and is particularly useful for image and speech recognition.

Key Features of Deep Learning

  • Uses neural networks with multiple layers.
     
  • Requires a large dataset and powerful computation.
     
  • Performs well in tasks like image and speech recognition.

Example of Deep Learning in Python

import tensorflow as tf
from tensorflow.keras.models import Sequential
from tensorflow.keras.layers import Dense
import numpy as np

# Generate some dummy data
X = np.array([[0,0],[0,1],[1,0],[1,1]])
y = np.array([[0],[1],[1],[0]])  # XOR Problem

# Define model
model = Sequential([
    Dense(4, activation='relu', input_shape=(2,)),
    Dense(1, activation='sigmoid')
])

# Compile and train model
model.compile(optimizer='adam', loss='binary_crossentropy', metrics=['accuracy'])
model.fit(X, y, epochs=500, verbose=0)

# Predict
print(model.predict(X))
You can also try this code with Online Python Compiler
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Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a broad field that focuses on building smart machines that can perform human-like tasks. AI encompasses ML and DL but also includes rule-based systems and robotics.

Types of AI:

  1. Weak AI (Narrow AI): Designed for specific tasks (e.g., Siri, Google Assistant).
     
  2. Strong AI (General AI): Can perform any intellectual task like a human (not yet achieved).
     
  3. Super AI: AI surpassing human intelligence (theoretical concept).

Differences Between AI, ML, and DL

ParametersArtificial Intelligence (AI)Machine Learning (ML)Deep Learning (DL)
DefinitionSimulates human intelligenceEnables systems to learn from dataUses neural networks for learning
Data DependencyWorks with structured and unstructured dataRequires structured dataNeeds large datasets
ComplexityBroad concept, includes ML and DLUses algorithms for learningUses deep neural networks
ExamplesChatbots, self-driving carsSpam detection, recommendation systemsImage and speech recognition

AI vs. ML vs. DL Examples

Artificial Intelligence Example: Virtual assistants like Siri or Alexa are AI systems. They understand your voice, process your requests, & provide answers or perform tasks like setting reminders or playing music. These systems use a combination of ML & DL to improve their responses over time.

  • Virtual assistants (Alexa, Google Assistant).
     
  • Robotics in industries.
     
  • AI-powered medical diagnosis.


Machine Learning Example: Email spam filters are a classic ML application. They analyze thousands of emails to learn which ones are spam & which are not. Over time, the system gets better at filtering unwanted emails without being explicitly programmed for every new type of spam.

  • Fraud detection in banking.
     
  • Movie recommendations on Netflix.
     
  • Stock market prediction
     

Deep Learning Example: Facial recognition in smartphones uses DL. It involves training a neural network with millions of images to recognize your face accurately. The system learns intricate patterns in the images, making it highly effective even in different lighting conditions or angles.

  • Face recognition in social media.
     
  • Autonomous driving in Tesla cars.
     
  • Language translation in Google Translate
     

These examples show how AI, ML, & DL are applied in real-world scenarios. While AI is the overarching concept, ML & DL are specific techniques used to achieve AI’s goals.

AI vs. ML vs. DL Works: Is There a Difference?

To understand how AI, ML, & DL work, let’s break down each concept step by step.

How AI Works

AI is about creating systems that can perform tasks requiring human-like intelligence. These tasks include reasoning, problem-solving, understanding language, & recognizing patterns. AI systems can be rule-based or learning-based. 


Rule-Based AI: These systems follow predefined rules. For example, a chatbot that answers FAQs uses a set of rules to match user queries with pre-written responses.

Learning-Based AI: These systems improve over time by learning from data. For instance, recommendation systems on Netflix or Amazon analyze your behavior to suggest movies or products.

How ML Works

ML is a subset of AI that focuses on enabling machines to learn from data without being explicitly programmed. It contains three main steps:
 

1. Data Collection: Gather relevant data. For example, if you’re building a spam filter, you need a dataset of emails labeled as spam or not spam.
 

2. Model Training: Use algorithms to train the model on the data. Common algorithms include decision trees, support vector machines, & linear regression.
 

3. Prediction: Once trained, the model can make predictions on new data. For example, it can classify a new email as spam or not spam.


Let’s take a simple Python example using the `scikit-learn` library to build a spam classifier:


Step 1: Import libraries

from sklearn.model_selection import train_test_split
from sklearn.feature_extraction.text import CountVectorizer
from sklearn.naive_bayes import MultinomialNB
from sklearn.metrics import accuracy_score


Step 2: Sample data

emails = ["Win a free prize!", "Meeting at 3 PM", "Claim your discount now!", "Project update"]
labels = ["spam", "not spam", "spam", "not spam"]


Step 3: Convert text to numerical data

vectorizer = CountVectorizer()
X = vectorizer.fit_transform(emails)


Step 4: Split data into training & testing sets

X_train, X_test, y_train, y_test = train_test_split(X, labels, test_size=0.25, random_state=42)


Step 5: Train the model

model = MultinomialNB()
model.fit(X_train, y_train)


Step 6: Make predictions

predictions = model.predict(X_test)


Step 7: Evaluate the model

print("Accuracy:", accuracy_score(y_test, predictions))


This code trains a simple spam classifier using the Naive Bayes algorithm. It converts text data into numerical form, splits the data into training & testing sets, trains the model, & evaluates its accuracy.

How DL Works

DL is a subset of ML that uses neural networks to model complex patterns in data. Neural networks are inspired by the human brain & consist of layers of interconnected nodes (neurons). Each layer processes data & passes it to the next layer, enabling the network to learn intricate patterns.

Let’s take an example of a basic neural network using TensorFlow & Keras to classify handwritten digits from the MNIST dataset:


Step 1: Import libraries

import tensorflow as tf
from tensorflow.keras import layers, models


Step 2: Load the MNIST dataset

mnist = tf.keras.datasets.mnist
(X_train, y_train), (X_test, y_test) = mnist.load_data()


Step 3: Normalize the data

X_train, X_test = X_train / 255.0, X_test / 255.0


 Step 4: Build the neural network

model = models.Sequential([
    layers.Flatten(input_shape=(28, 28)),   Input layer
    layers.Dense(128, activation='relu'),   Hidden layer
    layers.Dropout(0.2),
    layers.Dense(10, activation='softmax')  Output layer
])


Step 5: Compile the model

model.compile(optimizer='adam',
              loss='sparse_categorical_crossentropy',
              metrics=['accuracy'])


Step 6: Train the model

model.fit(X_train, y_train, epochs=5)


Step 7: Evaluate the model

test_loss, test_acc = model.evaluate(X_test, y_test)
print("Test Accuracy:", test_acc)


This code builds a neural network with one hidden layer to classify handwritten digits. It normalizes the data, defines the network architecture, compiles the model, trains it, & evaluates its performance.

What Does an AI Engineer Do?

AI Engineers develop intelligent systems by combining ML and DL techniques. Their responsibilities include:

  • Developing AI models.
     
  • Working with natural language processing (NLP) and computer vision.
     
  • Integrating AI with real-world applications.

What Does a Machine Learning Engineer Do?

Machine Learning Engineers build models that learn from data. Their key tasks include:

  • Data preprocessing and feature selection.
     
  • Model selection and training.
     
  • Deploying ML models for real-world applications.

What Does a Deep Learning Engineer Do?

Deep Learning Engineers focus on developing neural network-based models. Their tasks include:

  • Designing deep learning architectures.
     
  • Training models with large datasets.
     
  • Optimizing performance for accuracy and efficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between AI, ML, and DL?

AI is the broad field of creating intelligent systems, ML allows systems to learn from data, and DL uses neural networks for complex learning.

Is deep learning better than machine learning?

Deep learning is more powerful for complex tasks like image and speech recognition, but it requires more data and computing power.

Can I become an AI engineer without knowing deep learning?

Yes, but deep learning enhances your AI skills, especially for tasks involving neural networks.

Conclusion

In this article, we discussed the differences between Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Deep Learning (DL). AI is a broad concept that enables machines to simulate human intelligence. ML is a subset of AI that allows systems to learn from data. DL, a subset of ML, uses deep neural networks for complex decision-making. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right approach for data-driven applications.

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