open weights — A model whose trained parameters are published for anyone to download and run — unlike API-only models you can access but never possess.
inference — Running a trained model to get answers — the phase where AI is actually used, as opposed to trained.
token — The chunk of text a model reads and writes in — roughly three-quarters of a word — and the unit AI usage is billed in.
Why it matters
If open weightsA model whose trained parameters are published for anyone to download and run — unlike API-only models you can access but never possess.Full definition → now handle real agentic coding work, the calculus on model vendor lock-in and per-tokenThe chunk of text a model reads and writes in — roughly three-quarters of a word — and the unit AI usage is billed in.Full definition → cost changes for anyone shipping on an API.
