Editing Understanding Tokens in AI (section)

== Understanding Tokens in AI ==
Tokens are a fundamental concept in the realm of artificial intelligence, particularly in natural language processing (NLP). This page aims to clarify what tokens are and how they function within AI models.

=== Definition ===
In the context of AI, a token is a unit of text that has been processed by the model. This can include:
* Individual words
* Syllables
* Character chunks (e.g., 3-character segments)

The process of breaking down text into these units is known as tokenization. Different models may have varying definitions and methods for tokenizing input, leading to differences in how they operate.

=== Use in AI APIs ===
Many AI APIs charge based on the number of tokens consumed during processing. This means that the more complex or longer the input query, the higher the token count, which can affect usage costs for developers and users.

=== Conclusion ===
Understanding tokens is crucial for working with AI models, particularly when optimizing queries and managing API usage. For those interested in a deeper dive into the technical aspects, exploring n-grams and their role in machine learning can provide further insights.