Model
1 min read · Reviewed 17 Oct 2026
In short
The trained system itself — the thing that produces the output.
In plain English
A model is the result of training: a very large set of numbers that encodes the patterns learned from the training data. When you use an AI tool, you are sending your input to a model and getting its output back.
A real example
ChatGPT is a product. GPT is the model behind it. The same model can sit behind several products, and one product may let you switch between models — which is why the same question can give different answers in different tools.
Why it matters
Knowing that the product and the model are separate helps you diagnose problems. If output quality changes overnight, the model behind the product may have changed, not your prompting.
