---
Title: "What Is a Large Language Model (LLM)? Explained"
Url: "https://computer.io/glossary/large-language-model"
Topic: "AI foundations"
Description: "A large language model (LLM) is an AI model trained on vast text to understand and generate language. How LLMs work, examples, limits and business uses."
---

# What is a large language model (LLM)?

A large language model (LLM) is an AI model trained on very large amounts of text to understand and generate human language. LLMs predict likely next words, which lets them answer questions, summarize, write, translate and reason, and they power chatbots and AI agents.

## How LLMs work

Text is split into tokens. A neural network (usually a transformer) learns patterns from training data, then generates output one token at a time.

## Strengths and limits

| Strengths | Limits |
| --- | --- |
| Fluent language | Can hallucinate |
| Broad knowledge | Knowledge cutoff |
| Reasoning | No company data unless given |
| Flexible tasks | Cost and latency |

## In business

LLMs become useful when connected to company data (RAG, knowledge graphs) and tools (agents).

## FAQ

### What are examples of LLMs?

Models such as GPT, Claude, Gemini and Llama.

### Are LLMs the same as AI agents?

No. Agents use LLMs plus tools, memory and planning.

### How do companies use LLMs safely?

Grounding, permissions, guardrails and human review.

## Related terms

- [Generative AI](https://computer.io/glossary/generative-ai)
- [Tokens (in AI)](https://computer.io/glossary/tokens-in-ai)
- [Context window](https://computer.io/glossary/context-window)
- [Fine-tuning](https://computer.io/glossary/fine-tuning)

## How Computer helps

- [How computer works](https://computer.io/how-computer-works)

## Compare

- [Devrev vs chatgpt](https://devrev.ai/compare/devrev-vs-chatgpt)
- [Devrev vs claude](https://devrev.ai/compare/devrev-vs-claude)

## Further reading

- [History of ai part 2](https://devrev.ai/blog/history-of-ai-part-2)