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Billowing
/ˈbɪl.əʊ.ɪŋ/v. intr.Experimental
Etymology
from O.N. bylgja (wave, billow) + the meteorological metaphor family that has colonized approximately 34% of all AI spinner terminology since 2022
Definition
The expansive outward propagation of an intermediate reasoning state, in which Claude's working context swells dramatically before collapsing into a final response. Billowing is considered healthy up to 3 layers of expansion; beyond that, researchers speak of 'context weather events.'
Diagram
Usage
"The model entered a Billowing phase that consumed 2,400 tokens of internal deliberation to produce a four-word reply, which the team agreed was 'proportionate given the circumstances.'" - Token Meteorology: A Field Guide, 2024
See Also
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