MBMACHINE BRIEF
AnalysisOriginalsModelsResearchStartupsTools
Newsletter

Navigate

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Newsletter
  • Search
  • Sitemap

Content

  • Original Analysis
  • Blog
  • Glossary
  • Best Lists
  • AI Tools

Categories

  • Models
  • Research
  • Startups
  • Robotics
  • Policy
  • Business
  • Analysis
  • Originals

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
Machine Brief|

2026 Machine Brief. All rights reserved.

  1. Home
  2. /Glossary
  3. /Sampling
Back to Glossary
ai

Sampling

The process of selecting the next token from the model's predicted probability distribution during text generation.

Definition

The process of selecting the next token from the model's predicted probability distribution during text generation. Different sampling strategies (greedy, temperature, top-k, top-p) produce different trade-offs between coherence and creativity. The choice dramatically affects output quality and character.

Share this term

Related Terms

Temperature

A parameter that controls the randomness of a language model's output.

Top-P Sampling

A text generation method (also called nucleus sampling) that only considers tokens whose cumulative probability exceeds a threshold P.

Activation Function

A mathematical function applied to a neuron's output that introduces non-linearity into the network.

Adam Optimizer

An optimization algorithm that combines the best parts of two other methods — AdaGrad and RMSProp.

AGI

Artificial General Intelligence.

AI Alignment

The research field focused on making sure AI systems do what humans actually want them to do.

Explore More

Latest NewsAI NewsMarketsAnalysisFull Glossary

Want to learn more about AI?

Browse our complete glossary or subscribe to our newsletter for the latest AI news and insights.

Browse GlossarySubscribe to Newsletter