Understanding the Different Types of LLM: A Simple Guide

The large language models (LLMs) are one of the latest technologies in artificial intelligence that are discussed the most today. LLM is everywhere, as it can be used to drive chatbots and to enhance customer support, and even to write code. However, not every LLM is the same; various types of LLM have their advantages and disadvantages. It depends on the job you wish them to accomplish. The knowledge of these types is bound to help you select the appropriate model to use in your project or even to enjoy the functionality of this technology under the hood.

Types of LLM Models

1. Autoregressive Models – The Writers of AI

Autoregressive types of LLM are perhaps the most familiar ones to most. These models produce text word-by-word (or token-by-token), and this prediction is based on the previous words. Well-known examples are GPT-based models, such as GPT-4, Claude, and LLaMA. They learn from large volumes of books, web pages, and so on to be able to produce fluent and more natural-sounding text.

Strengths:

• Excellent at generating long passages of text, stories, conversation, and code.
• Versatile across many tasks, from creative writing to answering questions.

Limitations:

• Because they predict based on patterns rather than facts, these models can sometimes “hallucinate” – producing confident but incorrect information.
• They are generally less reliable for tasks that require strict factual accuracy without additional verification.

Autoregressive models are ideal when creativity, natural language flow, and flexibility are needed in outputs.

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2. Masked Language Models – The Text Understanding Experts

Masked Language Models (MLMs) like BERT and RoBERTa work differently. Instead of generating full paragraphs, they are trained to “guess” missing words in a sentence. For example, in the sentence “The cat sat on the ___,” the model predicts the missing word based on the rest of the sentence.

Strengths:

• Excellent at understanding context and meaning.
• Well-suited for classification tasks, sentiment analysis, search ranking, and question-answering systems.

Limitations:

• Not designed to generate long text or hold extended conversations.
• Less flexible for creative writing or open-ended generation tasks.

Because of their accuracy and deep text understanding, masked models are often used in search engines and tools that analyze or classify text.

3. Encoder-Decoder Models – The Transformers for Transformation

T5 and MarianMT are encoder-decoder models that combine two functions. The encoder interprets and reads the input text, and the decoder produces an associated output. This architecture renders them particularly robust in the situation when a single kind of text should be translated into a different one, such as translating a sentence into a different language or summarizing the material.

Strengths:

• Great for translation, summarization, and structured text transformation.
• More precise and controlled in output compared to some autoregressive models.

Limitations:

• These models can be heavier and slower because they perform both understanding and generation.
• They are often more task-specific and less flexible for general language tasks.

Encoder-decoder LLMs types are ideal when accuracy and structure are important, such as language translation or rewriting text with specific rules.

4. Retrieval-Augmented Generation Models – The Fact-Finders

Some of the newest LLMs types combine generation with fact retrieval. These models don’t rely solely on what they memorized during training. In their response generation, they instead proactively seek pertinent data in external databases or search engines. This approach is known as Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and it can be useful in minimizing hallucinations and enhancing accuracy.

Strengths:

• Outperforms basic models for factual queries and research tasks.
• Produces information that is more grounded and up-to-date.

Limitations:

• Such models are more complex and often slower or more expensive to run.
• They require reliable external data sources, which adds to development complexity.

Retrieval models are especially useful in business intelligence, research assistants, and systems where accuracy is critical.

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Choosing the Right Types of LLM

Different types of LLM shine in various areas. Autoregressive models are unmatched for creative and conversational tasks, masked models excel in comprehension and classification, encoder-decoder models are specialists in structured transformation, and retrieval-augmented models bring facts into the mix for more reliable answers.

With the further development of the LLM technology, we can expect an even greater number of specialised iterations of it to suit certain business requirements, such as healthcare, finance, education, and entertainment. Knowledge of these types of LLM will make you feel more confident when working with AI, both as a solution developer and a mere user of an AI in your everyday job.