Definition
An epoch is one complete pass through all the training examples used to train an AI model. A model may go through the same training data several times, with each pass counting as another epoch.
The number of epochs can affect how well a model learns. Too few may mean it has not learned enough from the data. Too many can cause it to learn the training examples too closely, making it less effective when working with new information.
How to explain epoch to your child
An epoch is one full round of practice for an AI system. In each round, it goes through all the examples it is learning from. It may repeat this process several times to get better at its task.
Try using this in a calm, casual conversation rather than turning it into a lesson.
Here’s how to think about it
Imagine you have a set of flashcards. Going through every card once is one epoch. If you start again and go through the whole set a second time, that is a second epoch.
Learning Check
What counts as one epoch during AI training?