RNN and CNN have different architectures. CNNs are "feed-forward neural networks" whereas RNNs are recurring networks that send results back (feed back) into the network. CNNs are frequently employed to solve problems involving spatial data like images i.e., data that does not come in sequence. RNN performs better for sequential data like daily stock prices.
CNN is typically used to deal with higher dimensional data as it provides robust automatic feature engineering. However, CNN does not consider the correlation between instances. The math behind RNN and its variants allows this relationship to be explored and helps create more accurate modeling, especially for dynamically changing data over time. This is why we have sometimes found a combination of the two (e.g. a hybrid LSTM & CNN ). Combining the two characteristics will be very beneficial.
For Me, most of he time I prefer to use LSTM as always dealing with data drift.
Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) are two popular types of neural networks that are used for different purposes. Let's explore their differences and the cases in which each one is typically used:
1. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs):
- CNNs are primarily designed for processing grid-like data such as images and videos.
- They utilize convolutional layers that can automatically learn spatial hierarchies of patterns and features from the input data.
- CNNs are well-suited for tasks such as image classification, object detection, image segmentation, and other computer vision tasks.
- They excel at capturing local patterns and spatial relationships in the data.
- CNNs can handle inputs of varying sizes but often require a fixed-size input or resizing for efficient processing.
2. Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs):
- RNNs are designed to process sequential data, where the order and context of the data matter.
- RNNs have loops within their architecture, allowing them to maintain an internal memory or state that captures the information from previous steps.
- RNNs are suitable for tasks such as natural language processing, speech recognition, language translation, sentiment analysis, and time series analysis.
- They excel at capturing temporal dependencies and long-term dependencies in sequential data.
- RNNs can handle inputs of varying lengths and process them one step at a time, making them flexible for tasks involving sequences of different lengths.
In some cases, the strengths of CNNs and RNNs can be combined by using a hybrid architecture, such as the Convolutional Recurrent Neural Network (CRNN). CRNNs can leverage the spatial hierarchy learning capabilities of CNNs while also capturing sequential dependencies using RNNs. These hybrid architectures have been successful in tasks such as optical character recognition (OCR) and scene text recognition.
In summary, use CNNs when working with grid-like data such as images and videos, and use RNNs when dealing with sequential data where the order and context matter. The choice between CNNs, RNNs, or hybrid architectures like CRNNs depends on the specific problem you're trying to solve and the characteristics of your data.