The Equation That Modelled Dying Populations in 1838 Is Now Firing Inside ChatGPT

📰 Medium · Data Science

Learn how the Verhulst equation, a 1838 model of population growth, is now used as an activation function in modern AI, including ChatGPT.

intermediate Published 16 Apr 2026
Action Steps
  1. Read about the Verhulst equation and its original application to model population growth.
  2. Explore how the Verhulst equation is used as an activation function in neural networks.
  3. Implement a simple neural network using the Verhulst equation as an activation function.
  4. Compare the performance of the Verhulst equation with other activation functions.
  5. Apply the Verhulst equation to a real-world problem, such as language modeling or image classification.
Who Needs to Know This

Data scientists and AI engineers can benefit from understanding the mathematical foundations of AI models, including the Verhulst equation, to improve their design and implementation.

Key Insight

💡 The Verhulst equation, a mathematical model of population growth, has been repurposed as an activation function in modern AI, highlighting the interconnectedness of mathematical concepts and their applications.

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Did you know the Verhulst equation, a 1838 model of population growth, is now used in modern AI? #AI #Mathematics
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