How do Large Language Models work?

Clipped from: https://youtube.com/live/IJKj6-I00pU

Curious about the magic behind Large Language Models (LLMs)? In this clip, I demystify how these powerful AI models function, using relatable examples to illustrate complex concepts.

We kick things off with a fun analogy from a ServiceNow developer meetup, where groups collaborated to write code scripts, much like how an LLM pools "knowledge" from vast amounts of text. This demonstration highlights how collective intelligence, whether human or AI, leads to better solutions.

Here's what you'll learn:

• What are LLMs? We explain why they're called "large" and how they draw from billions of text data points—ranging from GitHub scripts and API documentation to online literature and medical histories—to form their "knowledge base."

• The Power of Tokens: Discover how LLMs break down your prompts into smaller "tokens" to understand context and predict the most likely next word or phrase, essentially acting as a "fill-in-the-blank" simulator.

• The Art of Prompt Engineering: Understand why crafting a good prompt is crucial. Learn how providing more context, assigning specific roles (e.g., "professional story writer" vs. "seven-year-old child"), and offering examples can dramatically improve the accuracy and quality of an LLM's response.

• Reasoning Models: Get a glimpse into advanced LLMs that can "reason" by re-evaluating their generated responses to ensure they align with the given context, iteratively refining their output before presenting it to you.

This session is perfect for anyone looking to grasp the fundamental workings of LLMs and become a more effective prompt engineer. Understanding the "why" behind their operation will empower you to get the most out of these incredible tools!

Chapters
0:00 - The Analogy: Understanding LLMs Through Collaboration
1:41 - What Exactly is a Large Language Model (LLM)?
3:17 - How LLMs Generate Responses: The Token Prediction Process
6:43 - The Art of Prompt Engineering: Making LLMs Work for You