AI engineering glossary · Agents tools MCP
What is PAL (program-aided language model)?
Program-aided language model (also called PAL): A technique where the model writes program code to carry out the reasoning steps and an interpreter runs it to get the final answer, rather than working through calculations in text. It reduces arithmetic and logic slips.
Program-aided language model: an example
For 'A train covers 480 km in 6 hours, speed?' the model writes speed = 480 / 6 and the interpreter returns 80.
Related terms
- Code interpreter tool
- Chain of thought
- Tool calling
- PAL
More Agents tools MCP terms
- Read-only tool
- Reflection
- Replanning
- Retry with backoff
- Router pattern
- Sandbox
- Scope (OAuth)
- Scratchpad memory
Where you learn it
Program-aided language model is part of the AI Engineering Program, which teaches it with notes, a hands-on lab and an exam. The first lesson is free.