Temperature

You might say

Why does AI answer the same question differently every time?

A parameter controlling how random the answer is: lower values are steadier, higher values more variedGetting different formats from the exact same prompt usually means the temperature is set too high. Keep it low for strict JSON schemas, code generation, or stable classifications, and raise it for creative brainstorming; it adjusts sampling randomness rather than making the model smarter.

Know first

Prompt

Temperature

Adjust one parameter and watch the same question three times

Test prompt (unchanged)“Write a short slogan for a to-do list app”temperature = 0 · Deterministic

Run 1Less clutter, more focus.

Run 2Less clutter, more focus.

Run 3Less clutter, more focus.

All 3 runs are identical: highly predictable, ideal for code, JSON, and structured extraction.

How temperature affects output

Low: steady and predictable: Asking the same question repeatedly tends to converge; suited to fixed formats, code generation, and extraction where stability matters.

High: varied and divergent: The same question gets different phrasings each time; suited to brainstorming, naming, and exploring options.

It changes randomness, not ability: Lowering temperature does not make the model smarter, and raising it does not either; it only affects which candidate is sampled.

Quick checkChoose the best answer

AI must return a fixed-structure JSON every time, but the format keeps changing. What should be adjusted first?

Raise the temperature so the model tries several formats each timeIncrease the maximum output length to give the format more roomLower the temperature and require structured output with explicit fields

You can say this to an AI Agent

This task needs stable output: set the temperature to its lowest setting and return JSON in the fields and format I specify. Run the same input three times after each change and confirm the structure is identical before delivering.

Learn next

1Structured Output→2Prompt→

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