An artificial neural network (ANN) is a type of machine learning model that is inspired by the structure and function of biological neurons in the human brain. ANNs consist of interconnected nodes, or “neurons,” that process and transmit information through weighted connections. The input to an ANN is fed into the first layer of neurons, which applies a set of mathematical operations to produce an output that is passed on to the next layer. This process continues until the final layer produces an output value or set of values. ANNs can be used for a variety of tasks, including pattern recognition, prediction, and classification. They are a powerful and flexible tool in the field of machine learning.