GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer)
The family of models that kicked off the modern AI boom. The name describes how it works: it generates text, is pre-trained on huge amounts of data, and uses the transformer design.
It is the label most people first heard AI by. Knowing what each word means demystifies the whole thing.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name GPT actually stand for?
It stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer, and each word describes how it works: it generates text, it was pre-trained on huge amounts of data before you ever used it, and it uses a design called the transformer. Once you unpack the letters, the mystery mostly disappears.
Is GPT the same thing as an LLM?
GPT is a specific family of large language models, so every GPT is an LLM, but not every LLM is a GPT. It is a brand and design lineage within the broader category, the way a specific car model belongs to the wider world of cars.
Why did GPT make AI suddenly feel like a big deal?
GPT is the name most people first heard modern AI by, and it kicked off the current boom by showing that a text-predicting model could write, answer, and reason at a surprising level. It put a familiar label on a technology that had been mostly hidden in research labs.
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