Vocabulary

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A practical dictionary of 512 AI, machine learning, mathematics, and programming terms from HerbDev’s AI Vocabulary app. Start with a definition, explore an example, then follow the concepts behind it.

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Approximate Nearest Neighbor

Embeddings & Vector Search · Level 3 of 5

Approximate Nearest Neighbor

Searching for close vectors with a speed or memory tradeoff against exact results.

Approximation can miss some true nearest neighbors.

Example

An index searches a small fraction of a million vectors.

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Audio transcript

Approximate Nearest Neighbor. Searching for close vectors with a speed or memory tradeoff against exact results. Approximation can miss some true nearest neighbors. For example: An index searches a small fraction of a million vectors.

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Nearest Neighbor

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