Generative AI & LLMs
In-context learning
AI using instructions or examples in the current conversation without changing its underlying learning.
Example
An AI system follows a demonstrated invoice format after seeing two examples.
Why people use it
It lets AI follow examples supplied for the current task without a separate training run.
What you'll hear
“Use these examples as the pattern for this job.”
What this means for you
Keep needed examples accessible and do not assume they changed the basic AI system.
Can you control it?
Sometimes
Sometimes. Your choices depend on the tool and your access. The settings available to an everyday user may differ from those available to the people running it.
Common questions
- Does the AI system permanently learn the example?
- Not through learning from the current conversation alone. The behavior depends on available background information.
- Does the order of examples matter?
- It can. Earlier and later examples may influence the answer differently.
- Can a bad example lead the AI astray?
- Yes. It may copy mistakes or follow an accidental pattern in the examples.