language model
noun
plural language models
: a mathematical model (see model entry 1 sense 3) that analyzes a corpus of text in order to accurately represent the relationships between words
We have tremendous freedom to put words in any order we like. The computer has to have some kind of handle, a language model. It has to figure how likely any particular word is to pop up at any time.—
Robert Mercer, quoted in Chicago Tribune
Robert Mercer, quoted in Chicago Tribune
also
: software that uses a language model to generate text (such as responses to queries or prompts)
For example, given the task of analyzing the sentiment of the sentence 'I missed the bus today,' researchers could continue with the prompt 'I felt so [blank]' and ask a language model to fill in the blank with an emotion. —Kyle Wiggers
see also large language model
Kyle Wiggers Examples of language model in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The startup has released six AI language models that can answer questions, produce code, and carry out basic reasoning.
—Will Henshall, TIME, 30 May 2024
Microsoft announced a new version of its small language model, Phi-3, which can look at images and tell you what’s in them.
—Emilia David, The Verge, 21 May 2024
Other researchers have found similar phenomena in small- and medium-size language models.
—Kevin Roose, New York Times, 21 May 2024
Phi is a family of small language models Microsoft has built in-house and offered, like Llama, as open-source software.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 20 May 2024
Our language model also identified a novel viral capsid protein that is widespread in the global oceans.
—Libusha Kelly, The Conversation, 15 May 2024
While there are many types of AI systems that are used in a multitude of ways, the big trend of the last couple of years is language models—the AI systems that can generate coherent prose and usable code, and that power chatbots such as ChatGPT.
—Will Henshall, TIME, 13 May 2024
Again, these options can come from a human, a list, or a search carried out by the language model itself.
—Steve Nadis, Quanta Magazine, 9 May 2024
The company also sells cloud access to APIs that developers and companies can use to build AI products on top of OpenAI’s language models.
—Lauren Goode, WIRED, 2 May 2024
Will Henshall, TIME, 30 May 2024
Microsoft announced a new version of its small language model, Phi-3, which can look at images and tell you what’s in them.
—Emilia David, The Verge, 21 May 2024
Other researchers have found similar phenomena in small- and medium-size language models.
—Kevin Roose, New York Times, 21 May 2024
Phi is a family of small language models Microsoft has built in-house and offered, like Llama, as open-source software.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 20 May 2024
Our language model also identified a novel viral capsid protein that is widespread in the global oceans.
—Libusha Kelly, The Conversation, 15 May 2024
While there are many types of AI systems that are used in a multitude of ways, the big trend of the last couple of years is language models—the AI systems that can generate coherent prose and usable code, and that power chatbots such as ChatGPT.
—Will Henshall, TIME, 13 May 2024
Again, these options can come from a human, a list, or a search carried out by the language model itself.
—Steve Nadis, Quanta Magazine, 9 May 2024
The company also sells cloud access to APIs that developers and companies can use to build AI products on top of OpenAI’s language models.
—Lauren Goode, WIRED, 2 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'language model.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near language model
Cite this Entry
“Language model.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/language%20model. Accessed 5 Jun. 2024.
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