# AI token
> An AI token is a small chunk of text an AI model reads or writes while processing a prompt.
Topics: AI
Difficulty: Getting technical
Aliases: token, context token
Updated: 2026-06-26T08:00:00.000Z
## Go deeper
An AI token is a small chunk of text an AI model reads or writes while processing a prompt. In everyday buying decisions, the useful question is not just what the spec says, but what it changes for comfort, cost, speed, safety, or battery life.