Neural Pathways: Secrets of Artificial Brains

Artificial systems do not think—but they do process, adapt, and respond in ways that resemble cognition. Neural Pathways explores how artificial “brains” are designed, trained, and refined to interpret the world through data.
The book unpacks how neural networks transform inputs into representations, gradually improving through exposure and correction. Instead of technical depth, the focus is on intuition—how layers interact, why structure matters, and what learning actually looks like inside these systems. Readers gain insight into why certain designs excel at perception, language, or pattern recognition while others fall short.
Attention is given to constraints and trade-offs. Capacity, data quality, and objectives shape outcomes, and small design choices can have outsized effects. Learning is presented as guided adaptation, not understanding.
Key learning threads include:
• How neural networks process information
• Role of layers, signals, and feedback
• Design choices that influence capability
• Limits of artificial “understanding”
• Responsible use of brain-inspired models
Neural Pathways reveals the mechanics behind artificial intelligence, helping readers understand how engineered learning systems approximate cognition—without becoming it.