A Hackers' Guide to Language Models
What it is
Jeremy Howard's 90-minute practical tour of language models. It covers how they work, GPT-4's capabilities and limits, using the OpenAI API, code writing, data analysis and fine-tuning.
Why Hacker News recommends it
Repeatedly named the best practical tutorial for using LLMs, with a well-liked fine-tuning section.
- 8 people recommended it
- 8 different months
- 4 strong recommendations
- first 2023, last 2024
What HN commenters said
“best LLM usage tutorial I've seen so far”
Practical LLM usage tutorial including fine-tuning small models.
tarruda, 2023-09 · Strong recommendation · in “A Hackers' Guide to Language Models [video]”
“Jeremy Howard's amazing guide to language models”
Tip to erase chat history after GPT makes an error.
dojitza1, 2023-11 · Strong recommendation · in “Effective GPT-4 Programming”
“jeremy howard also has a fantastic video that is more around how to use LLMs”
Fantastic video on how to use LLMs.
mangoman, 2024-02 · Strong recommendation · in “I'm an Old Fart and AI Makes Me Sad”
“but the whole talk is great.”
Covers fine-tuning with timestamped section; whole talk is good.
code_biologist, 2023-10 · Recommendation · in “Mistral 7B Paper on ArXiv”
“Jeremy Howard has a great video”
Limitations and capabilities section on how prompts affect LLM quality.
lsedgwick, 2023-10 · Recommendation · in “Advent of Code 2023's new AI/LLM Policy”
“thank you for all the amazing free content you've already put out”
Thanks for Howard's free educational content such as this lecture.
ghj, 2023-12 · Recommendation · in “A new old kind of R&D lab”
“my favourite guide to fine-tuning is the section of this Jeremy Howard video that shows how to train a text-to-SQL model”
Section showing how to train a text-to-SQL model.
simonw, 2024-03 · Recommendation · in “GPT-4, without specialized training, beat a GPT-3.5 class model that cost $10M”
“I suspect these videos would be higher quality than most offerings from universities or business schools”
Practitioner-led LLM talk likely better than business school offerings.
tikkun, 2024-04 · Recommendation · in “Ask HN: AI Training for Executive Level”
Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.
Topics: language models, gpt-4, fine-tuning, openai api, jeremy howard, prompting
Also recommended by the same people
lectureThis is how you treat ADHD based off science, Dr Russell Barkley part of 2012 Burnett LectureAdhd Videos · 10 HN recommenders · 2015–2025
documentaryLine Goes Up – The Problem With NFTsFolding Ideas · 12 HN recommenders · 2022–2026
talkA Philosophy of Software Design | John Ousterhout | Talks at GoogleTalks at Google · 11 HN recommenders · 2018–2026
talkState of GPT | BRK216HFSMicrosoft Developer · 6 HN recommenders · 2023–2025
talk[1hr Talk] Intro to Large Language ModelsAndrej Karpathy · 9 HN recommenders · 2023–2026
documentaryIn Search Of A Flat EarthFolding Ideas · 17 HN recommenders · 2020–2026
talkDEF CON 25 - John Sotos - Genetic Diseases to Guide Digital Hacks of the Human GenomeDEFCONConference · 11 HN recommenders · 2017–2023
explainerTransformers, the tech behind LLMs | Deep Learning Chapter 53Blue1Brown · 13 HN recommenders · 2024–2026