# How Large Language Models Work

> Decode the technology behind modern AI. Learn tokenization, embeddings, and the self-attention mechanism that powers Large Language Models.

Canonical: https://codelivly.com/rooms/how-large-language-models-work
Last updated: 2026-09-30

| | |
|---|---|
| Level | Beginner |
| Category | Cybersecurity |
| Lessons | 4 |
| Estimated time | 30 min |
| XP | 100 |

This module demystifies Large Language Models (LLMs) for cybersecurity professionals. You will explore the foundational concepts of modern generative AI, including how text is broken down into tokens, converted into mathematical embeddings, and processed through the revolutionary Transformer architecture. You will learn how the self-attention mechanism allows models to understand context, and why this probabilistic, next-token prediction engine creates unique security vulnerabilities like prompt injection, hallucination, and training data leakage.

## Lessons

1. What is an LLM and How It Differs from Traditional ML (30 min)
2. Tokens and Tokenization Explained (30 min)
3. Embeddings - How Text Becomes Numbers (30 min)
4. The Context Window and Its Security Implications (30 min)

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