How to Analyze Data with Metabase? A Comparison To 5 Most Popular Analytical Services

Today, in the world of information technology, there are many different practices and methodologies. One of these methodologies is DevSecOps. In this article, we will discuss what DevSecOps is, how its processes are organized, which tools are used when implementing DevSecOps practices, and also why and when a business should adopt and use DevSecOps. What Is DevSecOps DevSecOps (an abbreviation of three words: development, security, and operations) is a methodology based on secure application development by integrating security tools to protect continuous integration, continuous delivery, and continuous deployment of software using the DevOps model. Previously, before the appearance of the DevSecOps methodology, software security testing was usually carried out at the very end of the process, after the product had already been released. DevSecOps fundamentally changes this approach by embedding security practices at every stage of development, not only when the product has been completed. This approach significantly increases the security of the development process and allows for the detection of a greater number of vulnerabilities. The DevSecOps methodology does not replace the existing DevOps model and processes but rather integrates additional tools into each stage. Just like DevOps, the DevSecOps model relies on a high degree of automation. Difference Between DevOps and DevSecOps Although DevOps and DevSecOps are very similar (the latter even uses the same development model as DevOps and largely depends on the same processes), the main difference between them is that the DevOps methodology focuses on building efficient processes between development, testing, and operations teams to achieve continuous and stable application delivery, while DevSecOps is focused exclusively on integrating security tools. While DevOps practices are concentrated on fixing development bugs, releasing updates regularly, and shortening the development life cycle, DevSecOps ensures information security. Stages of DevSecOps Since DevSecOps fully relies on DevOps, it uses the same stages as the DevOps model. The differences lie in the security measures taken and the tools used. Each tool is implemented and used strictly at its corresponding stage. Let’s consider these stages and the security measures applied at each of them. Plan Any development begins with planning the future project, including its architecture and functionality. The DevSecOps methodology is no exception. During the planning stage, security requirements for the future project are developed. This includes threat modeling, analysis and preliminary security assessment, and discussion of security tools to be used. Code At the coding stage, tools such as SAST are integrated. SAST (Static Application Security Testing), also known as “white-box testing”, is the process of testing applications for security by identifying vulnerabilities and security issues within the source code. The application itself is not executed; only the source code is analyzed. SAST also relies on compliance with coding guidelines and standards. Using SAST tools helps to identify and significantly reduce potential vulnerabilities at the earliest stage of development. Build At this stage, the program is built from source code into an executable file, resulting in an artifact ready for further execution. Once the program has been built, it is necessary to verify its internal functionality. This is where tools like DAST come into play. DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing), also known as “black-box testing”, is the process of testing the functionality of a built and ready application by simulating real-world attacks on it. The main difference from SAST is that DAST does not analyze source code (and does not even require it); instead, it focuses solely on the functions of the running application. Test At the testing stage within DevSecOps, the focus is not only on standard testing such as automated tests, functional tests, and configuration tests, but also on security-oriented testing. This includes: Penetration testing (“pentest”) Regression testing Vulnerability scanning The goal of testing is to identify as many vulnerabilities as possible before deploying the final product to the production environment. Release After product testing has been fully completed, the release and deployment to production servers are prepared. At this stage, the security role involves setting up user accounts for access to servers and necessary components (monitoring, log collection systems, web interfaces of third-party systems), assigning appropriate access rights, and configuring firewalls or other security systems. Deploy During the deployment stage, security checks continue, now focusing on the environments where the product is deployed and installed. Additional configuration and security policy checks are performed. Monitoring Once the release has been successfully deployed, the process of tracking the performance of the released product begins. Infrastructure monitoring is also performed, not only for production environments but also for testing and development environments. In addition to tracking system errors, the DevSecOps process is used to monitor potential security issues using tools such as intrusion detection systems, WAF (Web Application Firewall), and traditional firewalls. SIEM systems are used to collect incident data. DevSecOps Tools DevSecOps processes use a variety of tools that significantly increase the security of developed applications and the supporting infrastructure. The integrated tools automatically test new code fragments added to the system. Alongside commercial products, many open-source solutions are also used, some offering extended functionality. Typically, all tools are divided into the following categories: Static code analysis tools: SonarQube, Semgrep, Checkstyle, Solar appScreener. Dynamic testing tools: Aikido Security, Intruder, Acunetix, Checkmarx DAST. Threat modeling tools: Irius Risk, Pirani, GRC Toolbox, MasterControl Quality Excellence. Build-stage analysis tools: OWASP Dependency-Check, SourceClear, Retire.js, Checkmarx. Docker image vulnerability scanners: Clair, Anchore, Trivy, Armo. Deployment environment security tools: Osquery, Falco, Tripwire. Implementing DevSecOps Before adopting DevSecOps practices in your company, it should be noted that this process does not happen instantly; it requires a well-thought-out, long-term implementation plan. Before implementation, make sure your company meets the following criteria: A large development team is in place. Development follows the DevOps model. Automation is extensively used in development processes. Applications are developed using microservice architecture. Development is aimed at a fast time-to-market. The process of implementing DevSecOps consists of the following main stages: Preparatory Stage At this stage, project participants are informed about the main ideas of using the DevSecOps methodology. It is important to introduce employees to the new security practice, explain the main advantages of the DevSecOps model, and how it helps solve security challenges. This can be done through seminars or specialized courses. Current State Assessment At this stage, it is necessary to ensure that DevOps processes are already established within the team and that automation is widely used. It’s also important to understand the current development processes of your product, identify existing security issues, conduct threat modeling if necessary, and assess potential vulnerabilities. Planning the DevSecOps Implementation At this stage, decisions are made regarding which tools will be used, how the security process will be structured, and how it will be integrated with the existing development process. After successful completion of the familiarization and planning stages, you can begin pilot implementation of DevSecOps practices. Start small, with smaller teams and projects. This allows for faster and more effective evaluation before expanding to larger projects and teams, gradually scaling DevSecOps adoption. It’s also necessary to constantly monitor DevSecOps processes, identify problems and errors that arise during implementation. Each team member should be able to provide feedback and suggestions for improving and evolving DevSecOps practices. Advantages of Using DevSecOps The main advantage of implementing the DevSecOps methodology for business lies in saving time and costs associated with security testing by the information security department. DevSecOps also guarantees a higher level of protection against potential security problems. In addition, the following benefits are noted when using DevSecOps: Early Detection of Security Threats During Development When using the DevSecOps methodology, security tools are integrated at every stage of development rather than after the product is released. This increases the chances of detecting security threats at the earliest stages of development. Reduced Time to Market To accelerate product release and improve time-to-market, DevSecOps processes can be automated. This not only reduces the time required to release a new product but also minimizes human error. Compliance with Security Requirements and Regulations This requirement is especially important for developing banking, financial, and other systems that handle sensitive information, as well as for companies working with large datasets. It’s also crucial to consider national legal frameworks if the product is being developed for a country with specific data protection regulations. For example, the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) used in the European Union. Emergence of a Security Culture The DevSecOps methodology exposes development and operations teams more deeply to security tools and methods, thereby expanding their knowledge, skills, and expertise. Why DevSecOps Is Necessary The following arguments support the need to use the DevSecOps methodology in business: Security threats and issues in source code: Vulnerabilities and security problems directly related to the source code of developed applications. Source code is the foundation of any program, and thousands of lines may contain vulnerabilities that must be found and eliminated. Security threats in build pipelines: One of the key conditions of DevOps is the use of pipelines for building, testing, and packaging products. Security risks can appear at any stage of the pipeline. External dependency threats: Problems related to the use of third-party components (dependencies) during development, including libraries, software components, scripts, and container images. Security threats in delivery pipelines: Vulnerabilities in systems and infrastructure used to deliver applications, including both local and cloud components. Conclusion The DevSecOps methodology significantly helps increase the level of security in your DevOps processes. The model itself does not alter the existing DevOps concept; instead, it supplements it with continuous security practices. It is also important to note that DevSecOps does not explicitly dictate which tools must be used, giving full freedom in decision-making. A well-implemented DevSecOps process in your company can greatly reduce security risks and accelerate the release of developed products to market.

Nowadays, artificial intelligence (AI) has literally burst into everyday life. It has long since moved beyond simple things like solving math problems—now AI handles much more serious challenges, such as processing huge volumes of data or preparing analytical reports.  In this article, we'll examine two AI models that have recently captured the artificial intelligence market: DeepSeek, created by the Chinese company DeepSeek AI, and ChatGPT, developed by the American company OpenAI. What Are DeepSeek and ChatGPT? DeepSeek is a free chatbot and artificial assistant created by the Chinese company DeepSeek AI in 2025. The development cost of DeepSeek also generated significant buzz in the media and social networks—it amounted to just $5.6 million. Moreover, DeepSeek's development used only 2048 NVIDIA chips. By February 2025, DeepSeek released several versions of its product—DeepSeek V3 and R1. Among their features were open-source code and free access, which significantly increased DeepSeek's popularity from the start. The DeepSeek model is oriented toward a wide range of tasks, including text generation, programming, and data analysis. ChatGPT is an AI-powered chatbot created by OpenAI, founded in 2015 by Elon Musk and Sam Altman. It was first shown to the world in November 2022 and immediately caused a sensation in the AI field. ChatGPT is based on the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) architecture. By 2025, newer, more advanced versions were released, such as GPT-4o and o1. However, there are downsides—to access all its capabilities, you need a paid subscription, unlike the free DeepSeek. Key Differences Between DeepSeek and ChatGPT DeepSeek and ChatGPT have a number of fundamental differences. The first difference is the distribution model. DeepSeek is positioned as an open platform: its source code is available on GitHub, and basic functions are provided free of charge through a web interface, API, and mobile applications. This makes it an ideal choice for developers wishing to integrate AI into their projects, or for users on a limited budget. ChatGPT uses a freemium model: the free version is limited in the number of requests and functionality, while full access to advanced models (such as GPT-4o) requires a subscription costing from $20 to $200 per month, depending on the plan. The second difference is the architectural approach. DeepSeek uses Mixture of Experts (MoE) technology, where the model consists of many specialized subnetworks. This reduces computational costs and speeds up query processing. ChatGPT relies on the classic GPT architecture, which requires more resources but provides deep contextual understanding and high versatility. Differences in Language Models The technical foundation of DeepSeek and ChatGPT significantly affects their performance. ChatGPT is built on the GPT architecture, which is a transformer with a huge number of parameters. For example, GPT-4 has over a trillion parameters, and the latest versions, such as o1, reach 1.8 trillion. Training such models requires colossal resources. DeepSeek uses a different architecture called MoE. In this system, the model consists of multiple "experts," each specializing in a specific type of task: one might handle programming, another text analysis, and a third mathematical calculations. According to DeepSeek AI, training version V3 cost only $5.58 million, which is tens of times cheaper than ChatGPT. Another difference lies in the training methods used. ChatGPT uses hundreds of terabytes of data and the RLHF (Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback) technique, which helps the model better understand user requirements and avoid errors. DeepSeek trains on a smaller volume of data (for example, 14.8 trillion tokens for V3), supplementing them with synthetic datasets and optimization for specific tasks. This approach makes DeepSeek faster, but sometimes less accurate when executing complex user requests. Text Generation Quality The quality of generated text is one of the most important criteria when evaluating language models. ChatGPT is traditionally considered the leader in creating natural, coherent, and stylistically rich texts. It can write essays in the style of literary classics, movie scripts, scientific articles, or even humorous dialogues.In 2025, new versions of the language model, such as GPT-4o and o1, significantly reduced the likelihood of producing erroneous statements, substantially improved the logical structure of texts, and increased accuracy in answering complex questions. DeepSeek also demonstrates high-quality text creation. However, in complex creative tasks, DeepSeek falls short: its texts may be less elegant, and in long dialogues, it sometimes loses the thread of conversation or simplifies the style. Users note that DeepSeek handles short and medium requests better, while ChatGPT wins in multi-stage scenarios. Generation speed is another important factor to consider. Thanks to MoE, DeepSeek processes requests faster, which is noticeable in mass text generation or under limited resource conditions. ChatGPT, on the other hand, requires more time for analysis and processing, but the result justifies expectations in tasks where depth and quality are important. Coding and Programming Programming and use in the IT industry is one of the most in-demand and popular functions of language models, but here DeepSeek and ChatGPT offer different approaches. ChatGPT has established itself as a universal assistant for developers. It supports dozens of programming languages, can write code, explain algorithms, and find errors. In 2025, a deep reasoning mode was added, which allows the model to solve complex problems step by step. However, the free version of ChatGPT is limited in code volume and processing speed, forcing users to switch to paid plans. Despite the fact that DeepSeek was originally designed with the needs of programmers and IT specialists in mind, it often exceeds expectations in this area. Its open-source code and free access have made it a hit among open-source communities. DeepSeek R1, for example, showed outstanding results in code writing: it generates working solutions faster than ChatGPT and often adds useful details, such as line comments, game score tracking, or performance optimization. Tests in SwiftUI, Go, and Python showed that DeepSeek sometimes surpasses ChatGPT in code readability and speed of executing simple tasks, although in complex implementations (such as multithreaded applications) it may fall short. DeepSeek's special feature is DeepThink mode, which shows the step-by-step logic of solving a problem, which is ideal for learning and debugging. ChatGPT also offers similar functions, but only in paid versions, such as Advanced Reasoning. For simple tasks (writing a script or parsing data), DeepSeek wins thanks to speed and accessibility, but for large projects with long-term support, ChatGPT remains a more reliable choice. Language Support Multilingualism plays an important role for users around the world. ChatGPT supports over 50 languages, with a high level of accuracy and contextual understanding. It easily switches between languages within a single dialogue, maintaining natural communication. For example, a request in Spanish "Explain quantum entanglement in simple words" will be processed taking into account scientific terminology and adapted for a Spanish-speaking audience. ChatGPT also handles rare languages and dialects well, making it a universal tool for the global market. DeepSeek is also multilingual and supports over 20 languages, including English, Chinese, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, and others. However, its performance in languages other than English and Chinese is sometimes lower due to a smaller volume of training data. For example, in long dialogues in Spanish, DeepSeek may accidentally switch to English or generate a less accurate translation of complex phrases. This is especially noticeable in technical or legal texts where high terminological accuracy is required. Nevertheless, for basic tasks such as translating instructions or writing simple texts, DeepSeek copes quite well. Accessibility and Cost Accessibility and cost are also key factors when choosing between DeepSeek and ChatGPT. DeepSeek is distributed for free; however, API usage requires paid plans. The DeepSeek interface is accessible through a web browser on the official website and through a mobile application on iOS and Android. Access can also be obtained locally through the Ollama framework. Open-source code allows developers to customize the model to their needs, making it ideal for experiments, startups, and educational projects. By 2025, DeepSeek became a popular application in the App Store and Google Play, especially in Asian countries and Eastern Europe. While ChatGPT is distributed under a Freemium model, it only offers a free basic version based on the GPT-4o mini model. This model has limitations on the number of requests sent and also imposes restrictions on text volume. Full access to models like GPT-4o or o1 requires a subscription, the cost of which ranges from $20 per month to hundreds of dollars for plans with API and increased limits. DeepSeek wins in economy and ease of access, especially for users on a limited budget. ChatGPT offers more features for those willing to pay for premium functions, such as integration with external services, image generation, or working with large volumes of data. Comparison Table For clarity, we've compiled the main characteristics of the two AIs into a table for convenient comparison. Criterion DeepSeek ChatGPT Accessibility Free, open-source Distributed under Freemium model Cost $0 for chatbot use. API is paid. For working with models through API, tokens are used. Prices for input tokens start at $0.14 per million tokens (with caching). For output tokens, the price starts at $0.28 per million tokens. Can be used for free with a limited number of requests. API access is paid. Has higher token rates (depends on the model used). For the GPT-3.5 Turbo model, prices start at $0.50 per million (for input tokens) and $1.50 per million (for output tokens). For the GPT-4o model, prices start at $5.00 per million (for input tokens) and $15.00 per million (for output tokens). For the o1 model, prices start at $15.00 per million (for input tokens) and $60.00 per million (for output tokens). Text Quality Good, concise, practical High, natural, creative Coding Work Fast, efficient, readable code Accurate, universal, complex tasks Language Support Support for over 20 different languages, medium accuracy Support for over 50 languages, high accuracy Speed High Medium Best Suited For Simple tasks, including working with text, creating various small materials Complex projects, such as those related to creativity and solving business tasks. Also ideal for working with large data and creating programs in one of the supported programming languages What to Choose: DeepSeek or ChatGPT? The choice between the two chatbots DeepSeek and ChatGPT depends on user needs, budget, and, most importantly, the types of tasks that need to be solved. DeepSeek is ideally suited for users who need a fast, free, and efficient tool for everyday tasks. Such tasks include writing source code for a small project, analyzing text documents, searching for information on the internet, or generating simple texts such as letters or notes. Its advantages are especially noticeable for students, beginning developers, small businesses, and enthusiasts, where resource conservation and the absence of entry barriers are important. Another advantage of DeepSeek is the lack of fees for using the chatbot itself. Payment is only required for users who plan to use the API. ChatGPT, on the other hand, is better suited for complex tasks requiring high-quality text (including writing lengthy articles, scripts, business plans, etc.), deep analysis, or multi-stage reasoning. However, unlike DeepSeek, ChatGPT is distributed under a freemium model in which chatbot use is limited by the number of requests sent to the bot. The API is also paid and costs more than DeepSeek's API. Examples of DeepSeek and ChatGPT Usage: DeepSeek: Writing simple scripts for automating most types of tasks, searching for and generating technical material. ChatGPT: Generating complex texts, for example, for creating stories with full plots, solving complex algebraic problems. Also suitable for processing large data and working with analytical material. Conclusion Both AI models have advantages and disadvantages. Among DeepSeek's advantages are the lack of usage fees and speed of operation, making it a good solution for performing basic tasks. ChatGPT leads in text quality, versatility, and depth of analysis, which justifies its cost for professionals and complex projects. Both models continue to evolve, and their competition contributes to progress in the field of AI. DeepSeek is suitable for those looking for an accessible, fast tool, while ChatGPT is for those ready to tackle large, universal tasks.

Imagine you are driving a car and in a split second you notice: a pedestrian on the left, a traffic light ahead, and a “yield” sign on the side. The brain instantly processes the image, recognizes what is where, and makes a decision. Computers have learned to do this too. This is called object detection, a task in which you not only need to see what is in an image (for example, a dog), but also understand exactly where it is located. Neural networks are required for this. And one of the fastest and most popular ones is YOLO, or “You Only Look Once.” Now let’s break down what it does and why developers around the world love it. What YOLO Object Detection Does There is a simple task: to understand that there is a cat in a photo. Many neural networks can do this: we upload an image, and the model tells us, “Yes, there is a cat here.” This is called object recognition, or classification. All it does is assign a label to the image. No coordinates, no context. Just “cat, 87% confidence.” Now let’s complicate things. We need not only to understand that there is a cat in the photo, but also to show exactly where it is sitting. And not one, but three cats. And not on a clean background, but among furniture, people, and toys. This requires a different task: YOLO object detection. Here’s the difference: Recognition (classification): one label for the entire image. Detection: bounding boxes and labels inside the image: here’s the cat, here’s the ball, here’s the table. There is also segmentation: when you need to color each pixel in the image and precisely outline the object's shape. But that’s a different story. Object detection is like working with a group photo: you need to find yourself, your friends, and also mark where each person is standing. Not just “Natalie is in the frame,” but “Natalie is right there, between the plant and the cake.” YOLO does exactly that: it searches, finds, and shows where and what is located in an image. And it does not do it step by step, but in one glance—more on that in the next section. How YOLO Works: Explained Simply YOLO stands for You Only Look Once, and that’s the whole idea. YOLO looks at the image once, as a whole, without cutting out pieces and scanning around like other algorithms do. This approach is called YOLO detection—fast analysis of the entire scene in a single pass. All it needs is one overall look to understand what is in the image and where exactly. How Does Recognition Work? Imagine the image is divided into a grid. Each cell is responsible for its own part of the picture, as if we placed an Excel table over the photo. This is how a YOLO object detection algorithm delegates responsibility to each cell. An image of a girl on a bicycle overlaid with a 8×9 grid: an example of how YOLO labels an image. Each cell then: tries to determine whether there is an object (or part of an object) inside it, predicts the coordinates of the bounding box (where exactly it is), and indicates which class the object belongs to, for example, “car,” “person,” or “dog.” If the center of an object falls into a cell, that cell is responsible for it. YOLO does not complicate things: each object has one responsible cell. To better outline objects, YOLO predicts several bounding boxes for each cell, different in size and shape. After this, an important step begins: removing the excess. What if the Neural Network Sees the Same Object Twice? YOLO predicts several bounding boxes for each cell. For example, a bicycle might be outlined by three boxes with different confidence levels. To avoid chaos, a special filter is used: Non-Maximum Suppression (NMS). This is a mandatory step in YOLO detection that helps keep only the necessary boxes. It works like this: It compares all boxes claiming the same object. Keeps only the one with the highest confidence. Deletes the rest if they overlap too much. As a result, we end up with one box per object, without duplicates. What Do We Get? YOLO outputs: a list of objects: “car,” “bicycle,” “person”; bounding box coordinates showing where they are located; and the confidence level for each prediction: how sure the network is that it got it right. An example of YOLO in action: the bicycle in the photo is outlined and labeled with its class and confidence score, and the image is divided into a 6×6 grid. And all of this—in a single pass. No stitching, iteration, or sequential steps. Just: “look → predict everything at once.” Why YOLO is Fast and What the “One Glance” Feature Means Most neural networks that recognize objects work like this: first, find where an object might be, and then check what it is. This is like searching for your keys by checking: under the table, then in the drawer, then behind the sofa. Slow, but careful. YOLO works differently. It looks at the entire image at once and immediately says what is in it, where it is located, and how confident it is. Imagine you walk into a room and instantly notice a cat on the left, a coat on the chair, and socks on the floor. The brain does not inspect each corner one by one; it sees the whole scene at once. YOLO does the same, just using a neural network. Why this is fast: YOLO is one large neural network. It does not split the work into stages like other algorithms do. No “candidate search” stage, then “verification.” Everything happens in one pass. The image is split into a grid. Each cell analyzes whether there is an object in it. And if there is, it predicts what it is and where it is. Fewer operations = higher speed. YOLO doesn’t run the image through dozens of models. That’s why it can run even on weak hardware, from drones to surveillance cameras. Ideal for real-time. While other models are still thinking, YOLO has already shown the result. It is used where speed is critical: in drones, games, AR apps, smart cameras. YOLO sacrifices some accuracy for speed. But for most tasks this is not critical. For example, if you are monitoring safety in a parking lot, you don’t need a perfectly outlined silhouette of a car. You need YOLO to quickly notice it and point out where it is. That’s why YOLO is often chosen when speed is more important than millimeter precision. It’s not the best detective, but an excellent first responder. How to Understand Whether a Neural Network Works Well Let’s say the neural network found a bicycle in a photo. But how well did it do this? Maybe the box covers only half the wheel? Or maybe it confused a bicycle with a motorcycle? To understand how accurate a neural network is, special metrics are used. There are several of them, and they all help answer the question: how well do predictions match reality? When training a YOLO model, these parameters are important—they affect the final accuracy. IoU: How Accurately the Location Was Predicted The most popular metric is IoU (Intersection over Union). Imagine: there is a real box (human annotation) and a predicted box (from the neural network). If they almost match, great. How IoU is calculated: First, the area where the boxes overlap is calculated. Then, the area they cover together. We divide one by the other and get a value from 0 to 1. The closer to 1, the better. Example: Comment IoU Full match 1.0 Slightly off 0.6 Barely hit the object 0.2 An image of a bicycle with two overlapping rectangles: green for the human annotation and red for YOLO’s prediction. The rectangles partially overlap. In practice, if IoU is above 0.5, the object is considered acceptably detected. If below, it’s an error. Precision and Recall: Accuracy and Completeness Two other important metrics are precision and recall. Precision: out of all predicted objects, how many were correct. Recall: out of all actual objects, how many were found. Simple example: The neural network found 5 objects. 4 of them are actually present; this is 80% precision. There were 6 objects in total. It found 4 out of 6—this is 66% recall. High precision but low recall = the model is afraid to make mistakes and misses some objects. High recall but low precision = the model is too bold and detects even what isn’t there. AP and mAP: Averaged Evaluation To avoid tracking many numbers manually, Average Precision (AP) is used. This is an averaged result between precision and recall across different thresholds. AP is calculated for one class, for example, “bicycle”. mAP (mean Average Precision) is the average AP across all classes: bicycles, people, buses, etc. If YOLO shows mAP 0.6, this means it performs at 60% on average across all objects. YOLO Architecture From the outside, YOLO looks like a black box: you upload a photo and get a list of objects with bounding boxes. But inside, it’s quite logical. Let’s see how this neural network actually understands what’s in the image and where everything is located. YOLO is a large neural network that looks at the entire image at once and immediately does three things: it identifies what is shown, where it is located, and how confident it is in each answer. It doesn’t process image regions step by step—it processes the whole scene in one go. That’s what makes it so fast. To achieve this, it uses a special type of layer: convolutional layers. They act like filters that sequentially extract features. At first, they detect simple patterns—lines, corners, color transitions. Then they move on to more complex shapes: silhouettes, wheels, outlines of objects. In the final layers, the neural network begins to recognize familiar items: “this is a bicycle,” “this is a person”. The main feature of YOLO is grid-based labeling. The image is divided into equal cells, and each cell becomes the “observer” of its own zone. If the center of an object falls within a cell, that cell takes responsibility: it predicts whether there’s an object, what type it is, and where exactly it’s located. But to avoid confusion from multiple overlapping boxes (since YOLO often proposes several per object), a final-stage filter, Non-Maximum Suppression (NMS), is used. It keeps only the most confident bounding box and removes the rest if they’re too similar. The result is a clean, organized output: what’s in the image, where it is, and how confident YOLO is about each detection. That’s YOLO from the inside: a fast, compact, and remarkably practical architecture, designed entirely for speed and efficiency. How YOLO Evolved Since YOLO’s debut in 2015, many versions have been released. Each new version isn’t just “a bit faster” or “a bit more accurate,” but a step forward—a new approach, new architectures, improved metrics. Below is a brief evolution of YOLO. YOLOv1 (2015) The version that started it all. YOLO introduced a revolutionary idea: instead of dividing the detection process into separate stages, do everything at once—detect and locate objects in a single pass. It worked fast, but struggled with small objects. YOLOv2 (2016), also known as YOLO9000 Added anchor boxes—predefined bounding box shapes that helped detect objects of different sizes more accurately. Also introduced multi-scale training, enabling the model to better handle both large and small objects. The name “9000” refers to the number of classes YOLO could recognize. YOLOv3 (2018) A more powerful architecture using Darknet-53 instead of the previous network. Implemented a feature pyramid network (FPN) to detect objects at multiple scales. YOLOv3 became much more accurate, especially for small objects, while still operating in real time. YOLOv4 (2020) Developed by the community, without the original author’s involvement. Everything possible was improved: a new CSPNet backbone, optimized training, advanced data augmentation, smarter anchor boxes, DropBlock, and a “Bag of Freebies”—a set of methods to improve training speed and accuracy without increasing model size. YOLOv5 (2020) An open-source project by Ultralytics. It began as an unofficial continuation but quickly became the industry standard. It was easy to launch, simple to train, and worked efficiently on both CPU and GPU. Added SPP (Spatial Pyramid Pooling), improved anchor box handling, and introduced CIoU loss—a new loss function for more accurate learning. YOLOv6 (2022) Focused on device performance. Used a more compact network (EfficientNet-Lite) and improved detection in poor lighting and low-resolution conditions. Achieved a solid balance between accuracy and speed. YOLOv7 (2022) One of the fastest and most accurate models at the time. It supported up to 155 frames per second and handled small objects much better. Used focal loss to capture difficult objects and a new layer aggregation system for more efficient feature processing. Overall, it became one of the best real-time models available. YOLOv8 (2023) Introduced a user-friendly API, improved accuracy, and redesigned its architecture for modern PyTorch. Adapted for both CPU and GPU, supporting detection, segmentation, and classification tasks. YOLOv8 became the most beginner-friendly version and a solid foundation for advanced projects—capable of performing detection, segmentation, and classification simultaneously. YOLOv9 (2024) Designed with precision in mind. Developers improved how the neural network extracts features from images, enabling it to better capture fine details and handle complex scenes—for example, crowded photos with many people or objects. YOLOv9 became slightly slower than v8 but more accurate. It’s well-suited for tasks where precision is critical, such as medicine, manufacturing, or scientific research. YOLOv10 (2024) Introduced automatic anchor selection—no more manual tuning. Optimized for low-power devices, such as surveillance cameras or drones. Supports not only object detection but also segmentation (boundaries), human pose estimation, and object type recognition. YOLOv11 (2024) Maximum performance with minimal size. This version reduced model size by 22%, while increasing accuracy. YOLOv11 became faster, lighter, and smarter. It understands not only where an object is, but also the angle it’s oriented at, and can handle multiple task types—from detection to segmentation. Several versions were released—from the ultra-light YOLOv11n to the powerful production-ready YOLOv11x. YOLOv12 (2025) The most intelligent and accurate YOLO to date. This version completely reimagined the architecture: now the model doesn’t just “look” at an image but distributes attention across regions—like a human scanning a scene and focusing on key areas. This allows for more precise detection, especially in complex environments. YOLOv12 handles small details and crowded scenes better while maintaining speed. It’s slightly slower than the fastest versions, but its accuracy is higher. It’s suitable for everything: detection, segmentation, pose estimation, and oriented bounding boxes. The model is universal—it works on servers, cameras, drones, and smartphones. The lineup includes versions from the compact YOLO12n to the advanced YOLO12x. Where YOLO Is Used in Real Life YOLO isn’t confined to laboratories. It’s the neural network behind dozens of everyday technologies—often invisible, but critically important. That’s why how YOLO is used is a question not just for programmers, but for businesses as well. In self-driving cars, YOLO serves as their “eyes.” While a human simply drives and looks around, the car must detect pedestrians, read road signs, distinguish cars, motorcycles, dogs, and cyclists—all in fractions of a second. YOLO enables this real-time perception without lengthy computations. The same mechanisms power surveillance cameras. YOLO can distinguish a person from a moving shadow, detect abandoned objects, or alert when an unauthorized person enters a monitored area. This is crucial in airports, warehouses, and smart offices. YOLO is also used in retail analytics—not at the checkout, but in behavioral tracking. It can monitor which shelves attract attention, how many people approach a display, which products are frequently picked up, and which are ignored. These insights become actionable analytics: retailers learn how shoppers move, what to rearrange, and what to remove. In augmented reality, YOLO is indispensable. To “try on” glasses on your face or place a 3D object on a table via a phone camera, the system must first understand where that face or table is. YOLO performs this recognition quickly—even on mobile devices. Drones with YOLO can recognize ground objects: people, animals, vehicles. This is used in search and rescue, military, and surveillance applications. It’s chosen not only for its accuracy but also for its compactness—YOLO can run even on limited hardware, which is vital for autonomous aerial systems. Such YOLO object detection helps rescuers locate targets faster. Even in manufacturing, YOLO has applications. On an assembly line, it can detect product defects, count finished items, or check whether all components are in place. Robots with such systems work more safely: if a person enters the workspace, YOLO notices and triggers a stop command. Everywhere there’s a camera and a need for fast recognition, YOLO can be used. It’s a simple, fast, and reliable system that, like an experienced worker, doesn’t argue or get distracted—it just does its job: sees and recognizes. When YOLO Is Not the Best Choice YOLO excels at speed, but like any technology, it has limitations. The first weak point is small objects—for example, a distant person in a security camera or a bird in the sky. YOLO might miss them because it divides the image into large blocks, and tiny objects can “disappear” within the grid. The second issue is crowded scenes—when many objects are close together, such as a crowd of people, a parking lot full of cars, or a busy market. YOLO can mix up boundaries, overlap boxes, or merge two objects into one. The third is unstable conditions: poor lighting, motion blur, unusual angles, snow, or rain. YOLO can handle these to an extent, but not perfectly. If a scene is hard for a human to interpret, the neural network will struggle too. Another limitation is fine-grained classification. YOLO isn’t specialized for subtle distinctions—for instance, differentiating cat breeds, car makes, or bird species. It’s great at distinguishing broad categories like “cat,” “dog,” or “car,” but not their nuances. And finally, performance on weak hardware. YOLO is fast, but it’s still a neural network. On very low-powered devices—like microcontrollers or older smartphones—it might lag or fail to run. There are lightweight versions, but even they have limits. This doesn’t mean YOLO is bad. It simply needs to be used with understanding. When speed is the priority, YOLO performs excellently. But if you need to analyze a scene in extreme detail, detect twenty objects with millimeter precision, and classify each one, you might need another model, even if it’s slower. The Bottom Line YOLO is like a person who quickly glances around and says, “Okay, there’s a car, a person, a bicycle.” No hesitation, no overthinking, no panic—just confident awareness. It’s chosen for tasks that require real-time object recognition, such as drones, cameras, augmented reality, and autonomous vehicles. It delivers results almost instantly, and that’s what makes it so popular. YOLO isn’t flawless—it can miss small objects or struggle in complex scenes. It doesn’t “think deeply” or provide lengthy explanations. But in a world where decisions must be made fast, it’s one of the best tools available. If you’re just starting to explore computer vision, YOLO is a great way to understand how neural networks “see” the world. It shows that object recognition isn’t magic—it’s a structured process: divide, analyze, and outline. And if you’re simply a user, not a programmer, now you know how self-checkout kiosks, surveillance systems, and AR try-ons work. Inside them, there might be a YOLO model doing one simple thing: looking. But it does it exceptionally well.