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n. / Models and tokens
Foundation model
Definition
A foundation model is a large model trained on broad data that can be adapted to many tasks, usually through prompting or fine-tuning. Large language models are the best-known kind, but the term also covers image and audio models.
In more detail
Most teams do not train a foundation model. They choose one from a provider, then shape its behavior with prompts, retrieved context and tools. That choice matters for cost, speed and quality, which is why comparing models on your own traces beats trusting a public benchmark.
Example
You run the same 200 support questions through two provider models and compare accuracy, cost per run and latency in your own traces before picking one.
