Observed arrival · 2026-10-03

How Does an AI Work? Token by Token

howdoesanai.work Visit website

Editorial interest 82/100 Selection signal · not a rating of the site

An interactive walkthrough lets you ask an AI chatbot a question, then step through how its reply is generated token by token.

Landing page captured for the 2026-10-03 issue.

For: People learning how language models generate text
Worth noticing: It separates OpenAI-reported token data from values the app calculates or measures in the browser.

Field notes

The walkthrough includes a sample exchange about why the sky is blue, with token counts and candidate continuations shown alongside the text. Its settings include playback controls, chapter navigation, keyboard shortcuts, theme choices, and reduced-motion options; the page also explains that each message sends the conversation so far again.

Observed signals

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Editorial observations of this landing page, not a rating.

○OpenPublic substance visible

✦PrettyNotable craft visible

●ProPolished or operationally mature

◎NicheUnusually specific use

ƒJavaScriptBrowser-side code central

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