What is an LLM?
An LLM, or large language model, is an AI model trained on very large amounts of text to understand and generate human language. It works by predicting what text is likely to come next, which lets it write, summarize, translate, and answer questions.
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How an LLM works
An LLM breaks text into tokens and learns statistical patterns between them during training. When you send a prompt, it generates a response one token at a time based on those patterns.
It doesn't look up facts in a database unless it's connected to a tool or data source that lets it.
What LLMs are used for
Common uses include drafting and editing copy, summarizing documents, classifying feedback, answering questions, and writing code. They also power chatbots and many AI agents.
In marketing, they help with first drafts, research, and analysis, with a person reviewing the result.
Limits to know
LLMs can produce incorrect statements, and they only know what was in their training data unless you give them more. Their context window limits how much text they can consider at once.
Common questions
What does LLM stand for?
LLM stands for large language model. The word large refers to the amount of training data and the number of internal settings, called parameters, that the model uses.
What's the difference between an LLM and generative AI?
Generative AI is the broad category of AI that creates content. An LLM is a type of generative AI that works with text.
Do LLMs understand language the way people do?
They process language very well, but they work by recognizing patterns rather than by human understanding. That's one reason they can sound right and still be wrong.
How can an LLM use my company's information?
You can include it in the prompt, connect it through retrieval-augmented generation, or fine-tune the model. Check how the provider handles your data first.
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