How Does Attention in transformers, step-by-step | Deep Learning Chapter 6 Work?

Attention in transformers is like having a group of friends who help you focus on what matters most when you're listening to a story.

Imagine you're sitting at a big table with your best friends, and everyone is talking at once, some are whispering secrets, others are shouting jokes. You want to listen to the person telling your favorite story. Attention helps you pick out their voice from all the noise, so you can follow the story better.

1. Each friend (or word in a sentence) has a special signal that tells you how important they are.
2. You listen to everyone at once, but your brain gives more weight, like extra focus, to the person telling the story.
3. This focus helps you understand the whole message clearly, even if other voices are loud or quiet.

It’s like when you’re trying to hear your mom call you from across the house while your brother is playing music in his room. Your brain picks out her voice because it knows that's what matters right now, just like attention helps transformers understand which parts of a sentence are most important.