Understanding Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) Through Excel

CNNs work by comparing input images to learned filters through cross-correlation, where each pixel is multiplied by the corresponding filter position and results are summed to measure pattern similarity. This Excel demonstration uses 10×10 filters on handwritten digits, showing how machines detect patterns by finding the filter with the highest match score. Unlike traditional machine learning that treats pixels independently, CNNs understand spatial relationships between neighboring pixels, making them more effective for image recognition tasks.