Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) are a significant advancement in AI and deep learning, introduced in 2014 by Ian Goodfellow to generate new data similar to training data through a framework of competing neural networks: a generator and a discriminator. They have been widely recognized for their potential in various fields, including image, audio, and text synthesis, addressing challenges in data generation and annotation. The guide explores how GANs function, various types, their applications in generating realistic images, enhancing medical imaging, and even music composition.