---
title: "Large language model (LLM)"
description: "A foundation model for language, usually served from a data centre behind an API."
canonical: https://aigovernanceengineer.com/glossary/large-language-model-llm
author: "Jorge García Aibar"
license: "CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)"
doi: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22956197
version: "0.5.0"
updated: 2026-09-24
---

# Large language model (LLM)

A foundation model for language, usually served from a data centre behind an API. Because calls pass through a gateway, runtime controls (tracing, filtering, stopping) can sit centrally [1].

- Developed in: [ch. 11, LLMs and SLMs](https://aigovernanceengineer.com/bok/ai-defined#llms-and-slms)
- Chapters: [ch. 11, AI Defined](https://aigovernanceengineer.com/bok/ai-defined)
- Contrast with: [Small language model (SLM)](https://aigovernanceengineer.com/glossary/small-language-model-slm)
- In the glossary chapter: https://aigovernanceengineer.com/bok/glossary#t-large-language-model-llm

## Sources

[1] Phi-3 Technical Report: A Highly Capable Language Model Locally on Your Phone (3.8-billion-parameter model deployable on a phone; arXiv 2404.14219). Abdin et al. (Microsoft). 2024-04-22. https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.14219 (verified: primary)