Skip to content
LATHICAI Glossary

Multimodal AI

Random seed

A starting value that helps a computer repeat a sequence of seemingly random choices.

Example

A team records a seed when running a sampling or training experiment.

Why people use it

It helps make some random choices repeatable during an experiment.

What you'll hear

“Record the seed so we can repeat the trial.”

What this means for you

Record the wider environment when reproducibility matters.

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 using the same seed guarantee identical results everywhere?
No. Hardware, software and execution differences can still affect outcomes.
Does a seed make the result more accurate?
No. It affects repeatability of random choices, not whether the chosen method is good.
Can testing several seeds reveal instability?
Yes. Different results can show how much performance depends on chance choices.

Related terms

Still have questions?

Up to 500 characters.

Ask LATHIC about AI. Relevant glossary entries may be included.

Your question, the glossary entries it matches, and a rotating pseudonymous identifier go to Microsoft Azure’s OpenAI service through Vercel AI Gateway to generate an answer. Zero retention and no training are required of the provider, and LATHIC does not save your question or answer. Privacy Notice