---
title: "AI Quick Tips 173: SLMs vs LLMs"
description: Discover the key differences between Small Language Models (SLMs) and Large Language Models (LLMs) in terms of performance, cost, computing resources, and environmental impact.
image: https://thoughtsbrewing.com/hubfs/AI%20Quick%20Tips-1.jpg
---

[![Thoughts Brewing Logo](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Thoughts%20Brewing%20Logo_Round_Final_Light%20Blue_Transparent%20Background-1.png?width=200&height=600&name=Thoughts%20Brewing%20Logo_Round_Final_Light%20Blue_Transparent%20Background-1.png "Thoughts Brewing Logo")](https://www.thoughtsbrewing.com/)

Search toggle

- [Home](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/home)
- [About](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/about)
  
  About

    - [About Us](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/about)
    - [FAQs](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/faqs)
- [Blog](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog)
  
  Blog

    - [Blog Subscription](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/blog-subscription)
    - [Ask A Question](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/ask-us-anything-business-tech)
    - [Blog Home](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog)
    - [AI Articles](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/ai)
    - [Articles by Damien](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/author/damien)
    - [Articles by Danielle](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/author/danielle)
- [AI Training/Courses](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/courses)
  
  AI Training/Courses

    - [Next-Level AI Workshops](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/next-level-ai-workshops)
    - [Free ChatGPT Email Course](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/chatgpt-kickstarter-email-course)
    - [Request a YouTube Video](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/youtube-video-request-page)
    - [AI Quick Tips](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/ai-quick-tips)
    - [Writing Style Guide Template](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/writing-style-guide-template)
    - [Human + AI Playbook Template](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/human-ai-playbook)
    - [NotebookLM Masterclass](https://maven.com/thoughts-brewing-llc/learn-notebooklm-in-a-weekend-2-cohort)
- [Fractional COO/CTO Services](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/fractional-coo/cto-services)
- [Contact](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/contact)

[Contact](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/contact)

[![Thoughts Brewing Logo](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Thoughts%20Brewing%20Logo_Round_Final_Light%20Blue_Transparent%20Background-1.png?width=200&height=600&name=Thoughts%20Brewing%20Logo_Round_Final_Light%20Blue_Transparent%20Background-1.png "Thoughts Brewing Logo")](https://www.thoughtsbrewing.com/)

- [Home](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/home)
- [About](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/about)
  
  About

    - [About Us](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/about)
    - [FAQs](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/faqs)
- [Blog](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog)
  
  Blog

    - [Blog Subscription](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/blog-subscription)
    - [Ask A Question](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/ask-us-anything-business-tech)
    - [Blog Home](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog)
    - [AI Articles](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/ai)
    - [Articles by Damien](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/author/damien)
    - [Articles by Danielle](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/author/danielle)
- [AI Training/Courses](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/courses)
  
  AI Training/Courses

    - [Next-Level AI Workshops](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/next-level-ai-workshops)
    - [Free ChatGPT Email Course](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/chatgpt-kickstarter-email-course)
    - [Request a YouTube Video](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/youtube-video-request-page)
    - [AI Quick Tips](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/ai-quick-tips)
    - [Writing Style Guide Template](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/writing-style-guide-template)
    - [Human + AI Playbook Template](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/human-ai-playbook)
    - [NotebookLM Masterclass](https://maven.com/thoughts-brewing-llc/learn-notebooklm-in-a-weekend-2-cohort)
- [Fractional COO/CTO Services](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/fractional-coo/cto-services)
- [Contact](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/contact)

[![Thoughts Brewing Logo](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Thoughts%20Brewing%20Logo_Round_Final_Light%20Blue_Transparent%20Background-1.png?width=200&height=600&name=Thoughts%20Brewing%20Logo_Round_Final_Light%20Blue_Transparent%20Background-1.png "Thoughts Brewing Logo")](https://www.thoughtsbrewing.com/)

Search toggle

[Contact](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/contact)

- [Home](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/home)
- [About](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/about)
  
  About

    - [About Us](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/about)
    - [FAQs](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/faqs)
- [Blog](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog)
  
  Blog

    - [Blog Subscription](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/blog-subscription)
    - [Ask A Question](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/ask-us-anything-business-tech)
    - [Blog Home](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog)
    - [AI Articles](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/ai)
    - [Articles by Damien](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/author/damien)
    - [Articles by Danielle](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/author/danielle)
- [AI Training/Courses](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/courses)
  
  AI Training/Courses

    - [Next-Level AI Workshops](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/next-level-ai-workshops)
    - [Free ChatGPT Email Course](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/chatgpt-kickstarter-email-course)
    - [Request a YouTube Video](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/youtube-video-request-page)
    - [AI Quick Tips](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/ai-quick-tips)
    - [Writing Style Guide Template](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/writing-style-guide-template)
    - [Human + AI Playbook Template](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/human-ai-playbook)
    - [NotebookLM Masterclass](https://maven.com/thoughts-brewing-llc/learn-notebooklm-in-a-weekend-2-cohort)
- [Fractional COO/CTO Services](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/fractional-coo/cto-services)
- [Contact](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/contact)

What are you looking for?

# AI Quick Tips 173: SLMs vs LLMs

 May 20, 2025

![Picture of Damien Griffin](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/20cb51297a34e5d5d7c3362ec1fae755) [Damien Griffin](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/author/damien)

![AI Quick Tips](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/hubfs/AI%20Quick%20Tips-1.jpg)

If you read the [earlier post about SLMs](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/ai-quick-tips-168-dont-forget-about-the-small-language-models-slm) (small language models), you might be wondering how SLMs compare to LLMs (large language models).  

Well good.  Because that’s what this post is about.

To start with, SLMs are smaller.  “Smaller how?” you ask.  I’m getting there.  

SLMs have fewer parameters than LLMs (LLMs have billions to trillions, and SLMs have millions to hundreds of millions).  You can think of a parameter as a digital LEGO block that combines with all the other digital LEGO blocks to create the language model’s knowledge.  

- If you want a more textbook definition - *Parameters in AI are internal variables that machine learning models learn during training to make predictions or decisions. They include weights and biases that help the model adjust its outputs based on the input data, ultimately influencing the model's performance and accuracy.*

Here are some other comparisons between SLMs and LLMs -

- **Performance** -  
    - LLMs deliver superior performance on complicated tasks that can include multiple steps, logic, reasoning, creative writing, etc.
    - SLM can have similar performance to LLMs in smaller domain-specific tasks, but fall behind on complex tasks or even simple tasks from a different domain than what they were designed to support.
- **Cost** -  
    - LLMs are expensive to train, deploy, and maintain - the largest LLMs cost at least $10’s of billions of dollars per year to run *(I said “at least”).*
    - SLMs are more affordable and more realistic for smaller businesses or individuals.
- **Computing Resources** - 
    - LLMs demand massive amounts of computing power (memory, GPUs, TPUs, etc.).  
          - *By the way, a TPU is a special piece of hardware that Google developed just to run AI/ML workloads because they take THAT much power.*
    - SLMs require less computing resources.  This makes them faster to train, deploy, and maintain.  It also allows them to be run on smaller or older devices.
- **Environmental Impact** - 
    - LLMs have a much larger carbon footprint because of their massive resource needs.
    - SLMs consume less energy and are generally more environmentally friendly.

There are a lot more ways that SLMs and LLMs can be compared, but I think that is a good place to stop.  

If you haven’t looked at SLMs, then you might save yourself a lot of time and money if you can make them work for your organization.

### Share:

[Share on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthoughtsbrewing.com%2Fblog%2Fai-quick-tips-173-slms-vs-llms%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthoughtsbrewing.com%2Fblog%2Fai-quick-tips-173-slms-vs-llms%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [Share on X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthoughtsbrewing.com%2Fblog%2Fai-quick-tips-173-slms-vs-llms%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&text=AI+Quick+Tips+173%3A+SLMs+vs+LLMs)

[AI Quick Tips](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/ai-quick-tips), [AI](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/ai), [Intermediate](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/intermediate), [SLM](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/slm), [Models](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/models)

## Comments

## Related posts

##### Menu

- [Home](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/home)
- [About](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/about)
- [Blog](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog)
- [AI Training/Courses](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/courses)
- [Fractional COO/CTO Services](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/fractional-coo/cto-services)
- [Contact](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/contact)

[Privacy Policy](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/privacy-policy)   |  [Terms of Use](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/terms-of-use)    |   Herndon, VA   |   703-296-9912   |   ©2022-2026 Copyright Thoughts Brewing, LLC

[Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/thoughts-brewing-llc) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.youtube.com/@thoughtsbrewingllc) [Find us on Google](https://g.co/kgs/YhpnVFp) [Find us on Yelp](https://www.yelp.com/biz/thoughts-brewing-herndon) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/thoughtsbrewingllc)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Damien Griffin",
    "url" : "https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/author/damien"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2025-05-20T12:15:00.651Z",
  "datePublished" : "2025-05-20T12:15:00.000Z",
  "headline" : "AI Quick Tips 173: SLMs vs LLMs",
  "image" : [ "https://thoughtsbrewing.com/hubfs/AI%20Quick%20Tips-1.jpg" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/ai-quick-tips-173-slms-vs-llms",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://thoughtsbrewing.com/hubfs/Thoughts%20Brewing%20Logo_Round_Final_Light%20Blue_Transparent%20Background-1.png"
    },
    "name" : "Thoughts Brewing, LLC"
  }
}
```

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "Organization",
  "address" : {
    "@type" : "PostalAddress",
    "addressCountry" : "United States of America",
    "addressLocality" : "Herndon",
    "addressRegion" : "Virginia",
    "postalCode" : "20170",
    "streetAddress" : "205 Van Buren Street, Suite 120"
  },
  "email" : "contact@thoughtsbrewing.com",
  "logo" : {
    "@type" : "ImageObject",
    "url" : "https://24461783.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/24461783/Thoughts%20Brewing%20Logo_Round_Final_Light%20Blue_Transparent%20Background-1.png"
  },
  "name" : "Thoughts Brewing, LLC",
  "telephone" : "703-296-9912",
  "url" : "https://thoughtsbrewing.com"
}
```