Understanding Generative AI: The Transformer Architecture
R1 · UNDERSTAND12 minGain a precise mental model of how generative AI functions, focusing on the transformer architecture. You will understand how Large Language Models process information, enabling you to anticipate their strengths, typical behaviors, and common failure modes like hallucination.
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Syllabus
1. Tokens and embeddings: turning language into numbers
- Tokenization: Breaking Down Language
- Embeddings: Meaning as Geometry
2. Attention: The Core Idea
- Beyond Sequential Processing
- The Power of Attention
3. Stacking Layers: From Features to Abstractions
- The Transformer Block
- Building Abstract Understanding
4. Decoding: How Words Come Out (and Why It Hallucinates)
- The Next-Token Predictor
- Behaviors from Prediction
5. How a Raw Model Becomes a Helpful Assistant
- The Three Stages of LLM Training
- Recognizing Model Limitations