1 Big picture: What are LLMs?
This chapter covers
- What Generative Pretrained Transformers and large language models are
- How LLMs work in plain language
- How humans and machines represent languages differently
- Why tools like ChatGPT perform so well
- Understanding the limitations and concerns of using LLMs
The hype around terms such as machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), and artificial intelligence (AI) has reached record levels. Much of the initial public exposure to these terms was driven by a product called ChatGPT, a form of generative AI built by a company called OpenAI. We now see generative AI offerings such as Gemini from Google, Copilot from Microsoft, Llama from Meta, Claude from Anthropic, and newcomers like DeepSeek in the daily news. Seemingly overnight, the ability of computers to talk, learn, and perform complex tasks has taken a dramatic leap forward. New generative AI companies are forming, and existing firms are publicly investing billions of dollars in the field. The technology in this space is evolving at a maddening pace.