Tokenization Mechanism Remains Hard to Replace
mark_k · x · 2026-07-12
The author initially expected byte-level models like ByT5 and Meta's BLT to gradually replace traditional tokenization, allowing models to process raw bytes directly. However, even looking toward 2026, the reality suggests that tokenization isn't exiting the stage anytime soon and will remain relevant for a long time.
Rather than announcing a new release, this post reflects on the evolution of model representations: the byte-level approach is highly attractive, but tokens remain the dominant infrastructure, pointing toward a long-term coexistence.
More from Models
- Reddit user says Grok 4.5 felt faster and better than Claude for coding workflows — Rare_Iron9142 · 2026-07-21
- Kimi and GLM distillation debate reignites over what counts as real innovation — basedjensen · 2026-07-21
- Meme mocks Google’s AI lead after early Gemini 3.6 Flash outputs look rough — max_paperclips · 2026-07-21
- Users say GPT-5.6 Ultra feels like extra token burn with little visible gain — CtrlAltDwayne · 2026-07-21
- LWiAI Podcast #252: OpenAI Launches GPT-5.6, LLM Pricing War Intensifies — Last Week in AI · 2026-07-21
- Early Gemini 3.6 Flash outputs look fast but weak on frontend and spatial reasoning — max_paperclips · 2026-07-21