Large Language Model (LLM) In AI: Definition + Examples

Large Language Models (LLMs) such as Google’s Bard and OpenAI’s ChatGPT are revolutionizing business operations by employing advanced natural language processing (NLP) algorithms.
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Large Language Models (LLMs) such as Google’s Bard and OpenAI’s ChatGPT are revolutionizing business operations by employing advanced natural language processing (NLP) algorithms. These models, operating on Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) and driven by deep learning algorithms, analyze datasets to generate coherent and contextually relevant responses to queries.

By harnessing LLMs, your business can automate tasks, gain actionable insights from complex datasets, and streamline workflows. With the global LLM market set to reach $40 billion by 2026, understanding—and investing—in these transformative technologies is essential for staying ahead in the digital era. 

What Is A Large Language Model (LLM)?

Not to be confused with the legal degree of the same acronym, LLMs operate through neural networks, particularly transformers, and are trained on extensive amounts of data through supervised learning.

During training, the neural network performs “self-learning”, which refines its internal parameters known as input-output pairs, and in turn, its ability to generate accurate and human-like responses to given inputs. 

LLMs use attention mechanisms to focus on relevant parts of the input text and consider long-range dependencies when generating responses. Furthermore, LLMs use beam search and/or sampling to explore multiple possible responses and select the most appropriate one based on predefined criteria, such as likelihood or diversity. 

LLM Hallucination

LLM hallucination is when the model generates an output that is incorrect, in simpler terms, it’s when the model “lies”. There are two types of hallucinations:

  1. Factual Hallucination: When the model produces incorrect facts that do not exist
  2. Logical Hallucination: When the model produces logically contradictory statements 

Companies can correct hallucinations through interventions. For example, you may use Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) models that extract the correct information from knowledge bases during the generation process to ensure accuracy. Equally, you can fine-tune the model with custom datasets to improve accuracy. 

What Is LLM Fine Tuning?

Fine-tuning means training a pre-trained model on specific datasets to improve its performance on particular tasks. This process involves feeding the model with new datasets, and thereby updating its internal parameters through backpropagation and gradient descent. 

LLM vs NLP

LLMs are a specialized subset within the broader field of Natural Language Processing (NLP). Indeed, NLP is a field of AI that employs a wide range of techniques for understanding, processing, and generating human language. It can handle tasks like:

  • Translation
  • Sentiment analysis
  • Text summarization 

In contrast, LLMs specifically focus on understanding and generating human-like text through deep-learning models. 

LLM Vs. Generative AI

LLMs are a specific type of generative AI that focuses on language, while generative AI includes a broader range of tasks beyond language, such as generating images, composing music, synthesizing videos, and more.

Why Are Large Language Models (LLMs) Important? 

Large Language Models (LLMs) are a turning point in artificial intelligence (AI); unlike earlier AI systems that rely on limited language understanding, LLMs comprehend—and generate—human-like text with unparalleled precision. 

The significance of LLMs for businesses is multifaceted and spans marketing, finance, operations, and customer service. For example, by leveraging LLMs, businesses can automate customer inquiries, support tickets, and provide personalized answers, all while freeing up valuable human resources to focus on more important issues. According to Voiceflow, 58% of consumers expect companies to offer personalized experiences based on their past interactions, highlighting the growing demand for AI-driven customer service solutions. 

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Can You Build Your Own LLM? 

Building your own LLM from scratch as an individual or business is extremely challenging due to the extensive computational resources, expertise, and data required. Companies like Google and OpenAI have invested billions of dollars to develop their models. 

However, OpenAI offers access to the GPT models through an API that you can use. Equally, you may access open-source LLM projects, such as Hugging Face’s Transformers library. 

Best LLMs for Businesses 2024

The best LLMs for businesses include GPT-4 by OpenAI, BERT by Google, Claude by Anthropic, Falcon LLM, Databricks LLM, Janitor, and RAG by Facebook AI. 

Large Language Model

Features

Price

GPT

  • Generative pre-trained transformer with language generation and fine-tuning abilities. 

API pricing varies by usage.

BERT

  • Bidirectional encoder representations from transformers that are excellent for understanding context. 

Free and open-source.

Claude

  • Advanced conversational AI pre-trained on large datasets.
  • Human-like text generation. 

Not publicly disclosed.

Falcon

  • High performance on NLP tasks. 

Enterprise-level pricing varies. 

Databricks

  • Integrated with Databricks platform and optimized for big data. 

Subscription-based pricing varies. 

Janitor

  • Focuses on data cleaning and preprocessing. 
  • Handles messy datasets.

Subscription-based pricing varies. 

RAG

  • Combines language modeling with information retrieval.

Pricing varies by usage. 

Build Your First LLM Chatbot With Voiceflow In 120 Seconds

Voiceflow integrates LLMs to accelerate your business’s conversation design. Follow these 3 steps to create your custom AI chatbot. 

  1. Create a free Voiceflow account, start a project, and choose your chatbot’s platform—whether it’s for your website, voice, or custom interface. 
  2. Design the conversational flow by defining the intent of your customers, this can be asking for information, making appointments, etc. Use Voiceflow’s drag-and-drop interface and knowledge base to create this conversation effortlessly. 
  3. Choose and mix LLMs. We offer GPT models from OpenAI, Claude, and more! Then, import documents, such as your company’s Terms of Service, to build a custom knowledge base. This way, the chatbot can extract accurate answers and generate human-like outputs. 

That’s it! You can build an AI customer service chatbot for your website, enhanced with the conversational capabilities of an LLM. Yes, you can ask the chatbot to reply in the tone of Leonard Cohen or Shakespeare.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can large language models understand context?

Yes, LLMs can understand and generate text in context. This strength enables LLMs to make responses more coherent compared to earlier models. 

How do companies use large language models? 

Companies use LLMs to automate customer service, generate content, analyze data, and improve user experiences like virtual assistants

Build Your LLM-Powered Agent In 120 Seconds
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Build Your LLM-Powered Agent In 120 Seconds
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