Large Language Models: A Plain-Language Overview for Engineers

Abstract

Large language models (LLMs) are neural networks trained on huge text collections to generate text by predicting what comes next. Engineers using ChatGPT and other generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools need a clear picture of what training changes and prompts add. The article starts with the Transformer, which connects words in context, and pre-training, where models learn to predict text. It then explains how fine-tuning adapts models to requests, with reinforcement learning from human feedback using human answer rankings. Next, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) supplies documents, while chain-of-thought prompting encourages intermediate steps and agents use tools. FlashAttention lowers training and running costs by reducing data movement during attention; quantized low-rank adaptation (QLoRA) saves fine-tuning memory. Readers get a life cycle figure and tables comparing methods and their limits. A short checklist for judging LLM evaluation claims flags test material in training (data contamination) and model-based grading (LLM-as-a-judge). It also covers very long inputs (long context) and hallucination, meaning false or unsupported claims. Check factual accuracy separately from whether an answer sounds helpful.