Plain English
Chain of thought
An AI working through a problem step by step before it gives its final answer.
Step-by-step reasoning a model writes out, or works through behind the scenes, before answering. Asking for it can improve answers to multi-step problems, and some models, often called reasoning models, do it by default.
Why it matters
It helps on tricky tasks like pricing or scheduling puzzles, and makes mistakes easier to spot. But a tidy explanation isn’t proof: still check the facts and figures it uses.
At work
Before trusting a job-cost estimate, ask the assistant to show each step so you can check the numbers one at a time.
Think of it like showing your work on a math test: it helps you get the answer, and it helps the teacher see where you went wrong.
Related terms
Where it appears