Temperature
A parameter that controls the randomness and creativity of an AI model's output.
What it is
Temperature dictates how strictly the model adheres to the most likely next token. A low temperature (e.g., 0.1) produces highly deterministic, predictable, and focused responses, which is ideal for coding or data extraction. A high temperature (e.g., 0.9) encourages the model to choose less likely tokens, resulting in more creative, varied, but potentially less accurate text.
When you would use it
You adjust temperature based on the task: lower it when you need strict accuracy and logic, and raise it when you want creative variance.
Common operations
- Setting temperature to 0 when generating strictly formatted JSON or exact code syntax.
- Setting temperature to 0.8 when brainstorming creative marketing copy.
Related terms
Where this is taught
No learning path uses this term yet. Browse the Learning Atlas for guided sequences through related ideas.