Definition

Chain of thought reasoning means the AI explains each step it takes when solving a problem. Instead of jumping to the answer, it walks through the process—like showing its work on a math test. This helps the model stay accurate and logical.

Example

Instead of just saying ‘4,’ an AI might say: ‘2 plus 2 equals 4’—that’s chain of thought reasoning.

How It’s Used in AI

Used in math problems, logic questions, planning, and complex prompts. It helps LLMs like GPT-4 think more clearly, avoid mistakes, and give better explanations. Developers can prompt models to "think step by step" to get better results.

Brief History

The concept became widely discussed in 2022 after research showed that prompting models to reason out loud improved performance—especially on complex tasks like arithmetic and logic.

Key Tools or Models

Models like GPT-4, Claude, and Gemini support chain of thought reasoning. Tools like LangChain, ReAct, and AutoGPT use this to structure multi-step tasks in autonomous agents.

Pro Tip

Want better results? Add phrases like “Let’s think step by step” or “Explain your reasoning” to your prompt to activate this behavior.