What Is the Difference Between an LLM and Generative AI?

An LLM is one kind of generative AI, specifically the kind trained on text to generate more text. Generative AI is the broader category, covering image generators, video models, and audio tools alongside language models.

Every LLM counts as generative AI. Not every generative AI is an LLM. A tool like Midjourney is generative AI but not a language model at all.

For search and SEO purposes, the LLM side is what matters, since that is the technology parsing web pages and writing the answers people now read instead of clicking a link.

Understanding that distinction is the starting point for LLM optimization software, which targets language models specifically.