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A Very Gentle Introduction to Large Language Models without the Hype

Mark Riedl

About This Resource

Mark Riedl breaks down large language models in plain language, cutting through the hype to explain what these systems actually do. Perfect for anyone who wants to understand the technology behind ChatGPT without needing a computer science degree. The article covers how LLMs are trained, what they can and can't do, and why they sometimes produce convincing-sounding nonsense.

What you'll learn

  • What large language models actually are (and aren't)
  • How LLMs are trained on text data
  • Why LLMs sometimes 'hallucinate' incorrect information
  • The difference between understanding and pattern matching
  • Practical limitations to keep in mind
A Very Gentle Introduction to Large Language Models without the Hype