Systems and methods are disclosed for inquiry-based deep learning. In one implementation, a first content segment is selected from a body of content. The content segment includes a first content element. The first content segment is compared to a second content segment to identify a content element present in the first content segment that is not present in the second content segment. Based on an identification of the content element present in the first content segment that is not present in the second content segment, the content element is stored in a session memory. A first question is generated based on the first content segment. The session memory is processed to compute an answer to the first question. An action is initiated based on the answer. Using deep learning, content segments can be encoded into memory. Incremental questioning can serve to focus various deep learning operations on certain content segments.